ChineseGrammarWiki/ancien/Chinese-Grammar-Wiki/MD/A1/1.mw

{{Grammar Box}} 

The verb 有 (yǒu) is negated differently from ordinary verbs. Rather than placing 不 (bù) before it as with other verbs, you must use 没 (méi) to negate the verb 有 (yǒu).

== Structure ==

Nearly all verbs can be [[Standard negation with bu|negated with 不 (bù)]]. The verb 有 (yǒu) is an important exception to this rule, and must be negated with 没 (méi). 

<div class="jiegou">

没 + 有 (+ Obj.)

</div>

Note: because of the special relationship between 没 (méi) and 有 (yǒu), the pinyin for 没有 is normally written without a space: "méiyǒu."

== Examples ==

<div class="liju">

* 我 <em>没有</em> 问题。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>méiyǒu</em> wèntí.</span><span class="trans">I don't have any questions.</span>
* 我们 现在 <em>没有</em> 钱。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen xiànzài <em>méiyǒu</em> qián.</span>  <span class="trans">We don't have money now.</span>
* 他 <em>没有</em> 工作 吗？ <span class="pinyin">Tā <em>méiyǒu</em> gōngzuò ma? </span><span class="trans">Does he not have a job? </span>
* 他们 <em>没有</em> 爸爸 妈妈 。<span class="pinyin">Tāmen <em>méiyǒu</em> bàba māma.</span><span class="trans">They don't have parents.</span>
* 我们 在 北京 <em>没有</em> 房子。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen zài Běijīng <em>méiyǒu</em> fángzi.</span>  <span class="trans"> We don't have a house in Beijing.</span>
* 你 爸爸 <em>没有</em> 手机 吗？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ bàba <em>méiyǒu</em> shǒujī ma? </span>  <span class="trans">Does your dad not have a cell phone? </span>
* 你们 在 上海 <em>没有</em> 朋友 吗？<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen zài Shànghǎi <em>méiyǒu</em> péngyou ma?</span><span class="trans">Do you not have friends in Shanghai?</span>
* 我 的 老师 现在 <em>没有</em> 男朋友。<span class="pinyin"> Wǒ de lǎoshī xiànzài <em>méiyǒu</em> nánpéngyou.</span><span class="trans">My teacher doesn't have a boyfriend now.</span>
* 他们 都 <em>没有</em> 电脑 吗？<span class="pinyin">Tāmen dōu <em>méiyǒu</em> diànnǎo ma?</span><span class="trans">Do they all not have computers? </span>
* 这 个 周末 你们 都 <em>没有</em> 时间 吗？<span class="pinyin">Zhège zhōumò nǐmen dōu <em>méiyǒu</em> shíjiān ma?</span><span class="trans">Do you all not have time this weekend?</span>

</div>

Remember that trying to negate 有 (yǒu) with 不 (bù) is a classic mistake that many people make in the early stages of studying Chinese:

<div class="liju">

<ul>
<li class="x">我 <strong>不</strong> <em>有</em> 车。<span class="expl">Never use 不 with 有!</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ <strong>bù</strong> <em>yǒu</em> chē.</span></li>
<li class="o">我 <strong>没</strong><em>有</em> 车。<span class="expl">Always use 没 with 有.</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ <strong>méi</strong><em>yǒu</em> chē.</span><span class="trans">I don't have a car.</span></li>
</ul>

</div>

'''Never use 不 (bù) with 有 (yǒu).'''

== The Short Form of 没有 (méiyǒu) Is 没 (méi) ==

没有 (méiyǒu) can be shortened to 没 (méi) without altering its meaning.

<div class="liju">

* 我 <em>没</em> 钱。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>méi</em> qián.</span><span class="trans">I don't have money.</span>
* 你 <em>没</em> 男朋友 吗？ <span class="pinyin"> Nǐ <em>méi</em> nánpéngyou ma?</span><span class="trans">Do you not have a boyfriend?</span>
* 你们 <em>没</em> 车 吗？ <span class="pinyin">Nǐmen <em>méi</em> chē ma?</span><span class="trans">You don't have a car?</span>
* 老板 现在 <em>没</em> 时间。 <span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn xiànzài <em>méi</em> shíjiān.</span><span class="trans">The boss doesn't have time right now.</span>
* 我 <em>没</em> 工作，我 老公 也 <em>没</em> 工作。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>méi</em> gōngzuò, wǒ lǎogōng yě <em>méi</em> gōngzuò.</span><span class="trans">I don't have a job. My husband doesn't have a job either.</span>

</div>

==See also==

*[[Negation of past actions with "meiyou"]]
*[[Standard negation with "bu"]]
*[[Inability with "mei banfa"]]
*[[Comparing "bu" and "mei"]]

== Sources and further reading ==

=== Books ===

* [[Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition]] (pp. 51) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0415372615 →buy]
* [[现代汉语八百词（增订本）]]  (pp. 382) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%85%AB%E7%99%BE%E8%AF%8D/dp/B001198GSW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693275&sr=8-1 →buy]
* [[A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法)]] (pp. 35) [http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001J0ADWA&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001J0ADWA →buy]

===Videos===
* Yoyo Chinese: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMaE2w7C5qI&list=PL94A5E422FB99CDDD&index=12 Negation word 没]

[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
{{Used for|Denying and refusing}}
{{Used for|Negating}}
{{Basic Grammar|没|A1|没 + 有|我 <em>没有</em> 钱 。|grammar point|ASGPNV3Q}}
{{Rel char|没有}}
{{Rel char|有}}
{{Similar|Standard negation with "bu"}}
{{Similar|Inability with "mei banfa"}}
{{Similar|Expressing existence with "you"}}
{{Similar|Basic comparisons with "meiyou"}} 
{{Similar|Comparing "bu" and "mei"}}     
{{Similar|Negation of past actions with "meiyou"}}
{{POS|Adverbs}}
{{Subprop|Negative adverbs}}
{{Translation|not}}