Learn Hardcore Chinese: nǐ xiànzài yào chī zǎofàn, háishi xiān qù gōngsī? - Do you want to eat breakfast now, or go to the company first?

Use 还是 in a direct question to offer a choice: A or B? Example pattern: 你要A，还是B？
Use 或者 in statements (not questions): 我可以吃A或者B。
So in this sentence, 还是 is correct because the speaker is asking you to choose.

Do I need to add 吗 at the end?

No. An A-or-B question with 还是 is already a question. Do not add 吗.

Correct: 你现在要吃早饭，还是先去公司？
Wrong: 你现在要吃早饭，还是先去公司吗？
You can add 呢 to soften: 你现在要吃早饭，还是先去公司呢？

What does 要 mean here?

要 here expresses intention/plan or near-future action, roughly like “going to” or a firm “want to.”

It’s stronger than 想 (would like to) and not as strong as obligation words like 得/必须.
If you say 你现在要吃早饭, it sounds like you’re about to or planning to eat now.

Can I use 想 instead of 要? What’s the difference?

Yes, but the nuance changes:

想: desire or preference, softer/more tentative (你现在想吃早饭…).
要: stronger intention or plan, often immediate (你现在要吃早饭…).
In a polite question, 想 can feel gentler.

Why is 先 placed before 去公司? Where does 先 go?

先 is an adverb meaning “first,” and it goes before the verb phrase it modifies.

先吃早饭 / 先去公司
Full order here: Subject + time word + modal (要/想) + 先 + Verb + Object.

Does 先 need to be followed by 再?

Not necessarily. 先 alone is fine.

If you want to spell out the sequence, use 先…再…/然后…
Example: 我先去公司，再吃早饭。

Can I move 现在? For example, say 现在你…?

Yes.

你现在… is the default neutral order.
现在你… is also correct but emphasizes “now” as the topic or contrast.

Is there any difference between 早饭, 早餐, and 早点?

早饭: very common in Mainland colloquial speech.
早餐: more formal/neutral, common in writing and across regions.
早点: often used in the North or when talking about breakfast foods sold at stalls.
All can substitute here: 你现在要吃早饭/早餐/早点… (tone/formality changes slightly).

Can I just say 吃饭 instead of 吃早饭?

吃饭 means “have a meal” in general; it’s ambiguous without context. In the morning, 吃早饭/吃早餐 is clearer. Use 吃饭 only if the context already makes “breakfast” obvious.

What’s the difference between 去公司 and 上班?

去公司: go to the company (physical movement to the workplace).
上班: be at work / be on duty (the state/activity of working).
去上班: go to work (implies movement to start working).
So your choice is between eating now or going to the office first.

Can I say 到公司 instead of 去公司?

到公司 emphasizes the result “arrive at the company.”
去公司 emphasizes the action “go to the company.”
Both can work, but here 去公司 is more natural. Avoid 去到公司 in standard Mandarin; use either 去 or 到, not both.

Why is there a comma before 还是? Can I remove it?

The comma marks a natural pause between the two options. It’s optional in everyday writing:

With comma: 你现在要吃早饭，还是先去公司？
Without comma: 你现在要吃早饭还是先去公司？
Both are fine.

Can I drop words like 你 or 现在 in casual speech?

Yes, if the context is clear. Ellipsis is common:

现在吃早饭还是先去公司？
吃早饭还是先去公司？
要吃早饭还是先去公司？
All are acceptable depending on context.

How do I answer naturally?

Typical answers:

我现在吃早饭。
我还是先去公司吧。
我先去公司，再吃。
Adding 吧 softens and makes it sound like a decision/suggestion.

Can I add 吧 at the end of the question?

吧 at the end of a question suggests a gentle suggestion or the asker’s preference:
你现在要吃早饭，还是先去公司吧？ (sounds like you prefer the listener to go to the company first)
Neutral choice questions usually don’t add 吧. Using 呢 is a safer softener.

Should I use 您 instead of 你 for politeness?

Yes, to be respectful:

您现在要吃早饭，还是先去公司？
Everything else stays the same.

Any pronunciation tips for this sentence?

你 nǐ (3rd tone) before 现在 xiànzài (4th tone) will be a half-third (low) in natural speech.
还是 is háishì (2-4).
先 xiān (1st), 去 qù (4th), 公司 gōngsī (1-1).
Keep a slight rise on the first option and a fall at the end for the overall question intonation.

Does 还是 ever mean “still”? Is that the case here?

还是 can also mean “still/yet/after all” in statements (e.g., 我还是喜欢这个).
In this sentence it does NOT mean “still”; it’s the choice-marker “or.”

Can I use the 是…还是… pattern here?

Yes, it emphasizes the choice:

你是现在要吃早饭，还是先去公司？
你现在是要吃早饭，还是先去公司？
Both are common; the meaning is the same.

How would I express the sequence explicitly with 先…再…?

Turn it into a statement of plan or a suggestion:

我先去公司，再吃早饭。
你还是先去公司吧，再吃早饭。
As a question about preference: 你想先去公司，再吃早饭，还是现在先吃？