1.
or, otherwise
Formal conjunction presenting alternatives, used primarily in legal, official, and written contexts.
電話若しくはメールでご連絡ください。
Please contact us by phone or email.
本人若しくは代理人が申請できます。
The applicant or their representative may apply.
罰金若しくは禁固刑に処する。
Punishable by fine or imprisonment.
現金若しくはクレジットカードでお支払いいただけます。
You may pay by cash or credit card.
REGISTER: Formal/written. Common in:
- Legal documents
- Official forms and notices
- Terms and conditions
- Formal instructions
FORMALITY SCALE ("or"):
- か: neutral, everyday
- または: formal, written
- 若しくは: very formal, legal
- あるいは: formal, with nuance of possibility
HIERARCHICAL USAGE: In legal Japanese:
- 若しくは: connects items within a group (smaller "or")
- または: connects groups (larger "or")
EXAMPLE:
A若しくはBまたはC若しくはD
= (A or B) OR (C or D)
KANJI NOTE: The kanji 若い means "young," but in 若しくは it's ateji (phonetic kanji use) and has no semantic connection to youth.
EVERYDAY ALTERNATIVE: In normal speech and writing, use か or または instead.