〜又は〜 (~ matawa ~) — or (in forms and rules)
The 'or' of forms and rules — either one of the two is enough.
Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)
Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)
When to use it
At the top of almost any city-office form, in small letters, it says: 「黒又は青のボールペンで記入してください」— 'fill in with a black or blue ballpoint pen.'
Meaning
「又は」reads 「または」and means 'or' — either one of the two is enough.
How to attach
- Put 「又は」between two nouns; with three or more write 「A、B又はC」— like 及び, only before the last.
- In legal papers, an 'or' inside a smaller group is shown with 「若しくは」, and a range like 'from two weeks to a month' with 「ないし」.
Versus what you know
- In paperwork this difference really matters: the previous point's 「及び」= you need both; 「又は」= one is fine.
- 「在留カード及びパスポート」means bring both; 「本人又は代理人」means either you or your representative can go.
- In speech 「か」does this job (コーヒーか紅茶); 「又は」is the word of forms, rules, contracts and the news.
Watch out
The key rule: it is written language — asking a friend 'coffee or tea?', say 「コーヒーと紅茶、どっちにする？」, not 「又は」.
Examples (उदाहरणहरू)
黒又は青のボールペンで記入してください。
くろまたはあおのボールペンできにゅうしてください。
Please fill this in with a black or blue ballpoint pen.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 黒 = black → 「又は」= or → 青 = blue → のボールペンで記入してください = fill in with a ballpoint pen — either of the two colors is fine.
届け出は、ご本人又はご家族の方が行ってください。
とどけでは、ごほんにんまたはごかぞくのかたがおこなってください。
The notification must be made by the person themself or a family member.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 届け出は = the notification → ご本人 = the person themself → 「又は」= or → ご家族の方 = a family member → が行ってください = please have ~ do it — one person going is enough.
書類は、郵送又はオンラインで提出することができます。
しょるいは、ゆうそうまたはオンラインでていしゅつすることができます。
Documents can be submitted by mail or online.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 書類は = the documents → 郵送 = mail → 「又は」= or → オンライン = online → で提出することができます = can be submitted by — pick whichever is easier for you.
Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)
「署名又は押印が必要です。」— what is needed?
💡 Hint: 又は = or.
又は = one of the two is enough: a signature or a seal. If both were needed it would say 「署名及び押印」.
「黒＿＿青、どちらかのペンで記入してください。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint: どちらか = one of the two.
Because of どちらか, you need 'or': 黒又は青. 「及び」and 「並びに」= and (both); 「でも」doesn't fit here.
In which sentence is 「又は」unnatural?
💡 Hint: A form, or talking with a friend?
又は is a written word. With a friend, say 「コーヒーと紅茶、どっちにする？」or 「コーヒーか紅茶か」.
Your score: /3