or not

particle

Etymology: Calque of Hokkien 抑無 /抑无 (a̍h-bô / á-bô, literally “or not; or no; or none”). See also Hokkien 是毋是 (sī-m̄-sī / sǐ-m̄-sǐ, “whether or not”), 是抑毋是 (sī á-m̄-sī / sǐ á-m̄-sǐ, “isn't?”, literally “is it? or is it not?”), Mandarin 是不是 (shìbùshì, “whether or not”), forming a question, and similar interrogative expressions with 不, 無 /无, 唔 and other dialectal synonyms.

1. Final interrogative particle, forming a yes/no question from a declarative statement.

   “You want to go see snow or not, Ma?”

   “Can or not ?”

phrase

1. Emphasizes that a particular claim or idea makes no difference regarding what can or has happened.
2. A sardonic response to a new event that contradicts what the speaker has just stated.

   “"I bet the green car will make it unscathed!" said Mildred. Suddenly, there came a loud crunch from the racetrack. "Or not," she sighed.”