<p>According to <a href="https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E6%88%96%E5%88%99/10951004" rel="nofollow noreferrer">百度百科</a>，<code>或则</code> is a valid Chinese word (have similar meaning to <code>或者</code>)</p>
<blockquote>
<p>鲁迅《华盖集·“碰壁”之馀》：“平时憎恶我的却总希望我做一个完人，即使敌手用了卑劣的流言和阴谋，也应该正襟危坐，毫无愤怒，默默地吃苦；<strong>或则</strong>戟指嚼舌，喷血而亡。”参见“或者”。</p>
</blockquote>
<p>In the above quoted text, 或则 can be considered as <strong>or else</strong></p>
<p><code>或者</code> can also mean <code>somebody</code> or <code>someone</code>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>《初刻拍案惊奇》卷二十：“<strong>或者</strong>因一句话上，成就了一家儿夫妇；<strong>或者</strong>因一纸字中，拆散了一世的姻缘。”</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-10-29T11:10:13.120Z
“或者因一句话上，成就了一家儿夫妇；或者因一纸字中，拆散了一世的姻缘。” I don't think 或者here means someone. I think this is a case of ellipsis.  “(someone)或者因一句话上，成就了一家儿夫妇；(someone)或者因一纸字中，拆散了一世的姻缘。” It's quite common in Chinese to omit the subject.
joehua
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-11-16T07:35:34.030Z
Nope, if you think this way, then 或者 is meaningless or redundant. You have “或曰” as “someone says”.
Toosky Hierot
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-10-29T06:56:57.343Z
2021-10-29T07:05:31.690Z
2021-10-29T07:05:31.690Z
imkzh
<p>Actually, “者” doesn't have to stand for a person.
According to <a href="http://xh.5156edu.com/html3/11340.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">新华字典</a>， “者” can refer to either someone, like</p>
<blockquote>
<p>读书者有几。——清·袁枚《黄生借书说》</p>
</blockquote>
<p>where 读书者 means a person who reads,</p>
<p>or something, like</p>
<blockquote>
<p>逝者如斯夫!不舍昼夜。——《论语》</p>
</blockquote>
<p>where 逝者 means the passing time, and</p>
<blockquote>
<p>二者不可得兼。——《孟子·梁惠王上》</p>
</blockquote>
<p>where 二者 refers to “these two things mentioned above”.</p>
<p>There's much more examples, where 者 can also stand for &quot;the reason of which&quot;, etc.
So, I would consider 或者 as &quot;something alternative&quot; or something likes that.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-11-14T06:12:15.640Z
2021-11-14T06:12:15.640Z
zzl
<p>According to my understanding, the correct use of &quot;或者&quot;(meaning &quot;or&quot;). But the character &quot;者&quot; means a person who specialized in something. Why isn't it &quot;或则&quot; similar to &quot;否则&quot;. Since &quot;则&quot; has any meanings. Like: to follow, standard/norm, then, etc. Sorry if this is supposed to be something obvious.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-10-29T07:55:18.133Z
或则 is used in old Chinese.
dan
<word-choice>
Why isn't 或者 written as 或则，similar to 否则?
# Why isn't 或者 written as 或则，similar to 否则?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-10-29)

According to my understanding, the correct use of "或者"(meaning "or"). But the character "者" means a person who specialized in something. Why isn't it "或则" similar to "否则". Since "则" has any meanings. Like: to follow, standard/norm, then, etc. Sorry if this is supposed to be something obvious.

**Tags:** word-choice

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: 或则 is used in old Chinese.  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2021-10-29. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

According to [百度百科](https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E6%88%96%E5%88%99/10951004)，`或则` is a valid Chinese word (have similar meaning to `或者`)

> 鲁迅《华盖集·“碰壁”之馀》：“平时憎恶我的却总希望我做一个完人，即使敌手用了卑劣的流言和阴谋，也应该正襟危坐，毫无愤怒，默默地吃苦；**或则**戟指嚼舌，喷血而亡。”参见“或者”。

In the above quoted text, 或则 can be considered as **or else**

`或者` can also mean `somebody` or `someone`:

> 《初刻拍案惊奇》卷二十：“**或者**因一句话上，成就了一家儿夫妇；**或者**因一纸字中，拆散了一世的姻缘。”

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: “或者因一句话上，成就了一家儿夫妇；或者因一纸字中，拆散了一世的姻缘。” I don't think 或者here means someone. I think this is a case of ellipsis.  “(someone)或者因一句话上，成就了一家儿夫妇；(someone)或者因一纸字中，拆散了一世的姻缘。” It's quite common in Chinese to omit the subject.  
> **username_4**: Nope, if you think this way, then 或者 is meaningless or redundant. You have “或曰” as “someone says”.  

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### Answer by username_5 on 2021-11-14. Score: 0

Actually, “者” doesn't have to stand for a person.
According to [新华字典](http://xh.5156edu.com/html3/11340.html)， “者” can refer to either someone, like

> 读书者有几。——清·袁枚《黄生借书说》

where 读书者 means a person who reads,

or something, like

> 逝者如斯夫!不舍昼夜。——《论语》

where 逝者 means the passing time, and

> 二者不可得兼。——《孟子·梁惠王上》

where 二者 refers to “these two things mentioned above”.

There's much more examples, where 者 can also stand for "the reason of which", etc.
So, I would consider 或者 as "something alternative" or something likes that.


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