Expressing possession with "yoǔ" "有"
有 (yǒu) can be used in various ways, but the most basic meaning of this verb you need to know is "to have."
Contents
Structure
Subj. + 有 + Obj.
Examples
- 我 有 钱。
Wǒ yǒu qián.
I have money.
- 你 有 房子 吗？
Nǐ yǒu fángzi ma?
Do you have a house?
- 她 没 有 车。
Tā méi yǒu chē.
She doesn't have a car.
- 他 有 女 朋友 吗？
Tā yǒu nǚpéngyou ma?
Does he have a girlfriend?
- 我们 有 三 个 女儿 。
Wǒmen yǒu sān gè nǚ'ér.
We have three daughters.
- 我们 家 有 两 个 公司 。
Wǒmen jiā yǒu liǎng gè gōngsī.
Our family has two companies.
- 你 有 一百 块 钱 吗？
Nǐ yǒu yī bǎi kuài qián ma?
Do you have 100 kuài RMB?
- 你 的 老师 有 iPad 吗？
Nǐ de lǎoshī yǒu iPad ma?
Does your teacher have an iPad?
- 我爸爸 没 有 工作。
Wǒ bàba méi yǒu gōngzuò.
My dad doesn't have a job.
- 今天 你 有 课 吗？
Jīntiān nǐ yǒu kè ma?
Do you have classes today?
Negating 有
The verb 有 (yǒu) is negated in a special way. Unlike most verbs, it is negated with 没 (méi), instead of 不 (bù). The negative form of 有 (yǒu) then, is 没有 (méiyǒu). For more on that topic, see our article on negation of "you".
See also
Sources and further reading
- Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 87-8)
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (p. 53)
- New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1) (p. 105)
- New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed) (pp. 122-3)
- New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2) (p. 155)
- 40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课下册） (pp. 300-1)
- 40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册） (pp. 62, 73)