How to Say ‘Indoors or outdoors?’ in Traditional Chinese
室內還是室外？
shì nèi hái shì shì wài
[shir nay hai-shir shir wai]
💬 Usage Tip: [還是] is used for "or" in questions where someone must choose between options. Use it in the same pattern with new choices: [茶還是咖啡？] or [六點還是七點？]
Phrase Breakdown
室內
shì nèi
indoors
Inside seating or inside a building.
我們要坐室內。
We want to sit indoors.
Words in this phrase
室
shì
[shir]
room; indoor space
室 means a room or enclosed space and is reused here in 室外.
我朋友比較喜歡室外，不喜歡室內。
My friend prefers outdoors and doesn't like indoors.
內
nèi
[nay]
inside; inner
內 means inside or inner. In restaurants, 室內 means indoor seating.
今天太熱了，我想坐室內。
It's too hot today, so I want to sit indoors.
還是
hái shì
[hai-shir]
or; still is
還是 is used in questions to present alternatives, similar to saying or in English.
您要茶還是咖啡？
Would you like tea or coffee?
室外
shì wài
outdoors / outside
Outside seating or outside area.
外面比較涼，想坐室外。
It’s cooler outside, so I want to sit outdoors.
Words in this phrase
室
shì
[shir]
room; indoor space
室 means a room or enclosed space and is reused here in 室外.
我朋友比較喜歡室外，不喜歡室內。
My friend prefers outdoors and doesn't like indoors.
外
wài
[wai]
outside; exterior
外 means outside. In this sentence, it helps form 室外, meaning outdoor seating.
晚上坐室外很涼快。
Sitting outside at night is very cool and pleasant.
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