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有 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
有
yǒu
to have
HSK 1, v, 6 strokes, radical 月, rank #11, Easy
有
yǒu
there is
HSK 1, v, 6 strokes, radical 月, rank #11, Easy
有
yǒu
there are
HSK 1, v, 6 strokes, radical 月, rank #11, Easy
有
yǒu
to exist
HSK 1, v, 6 strokes, radical 月, rank #11, Easy
有
yǒu
to be
HSK 1, v, 6 strokes, radical 月, rank #11, Easy
有
yǒu
to have, to own, to possess; to exist
HSK 1, v, 6 strokes, radical 月, rank #11, Easy
yǒu(you3)you T3
1to have
2there is
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March 24, 2026
有yǒu(you3)
The character 有 (yǒu) means 'to have' or 'to exist,' and is commonly used to indicate possession or existence. It is essential in both written and spoken Mandarin to express what someone possesses or to state that something is present.
Strokes6Radical月Frequency#11DifficultyEasy
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the concept of possession is often tied to familial relationships and social status, making 有 an important word when discussing family heirlooms or property.
Memory tip
Imagine a person holding a large 'yoke' (sounds like 'yǒu') on their shoulders, symbolizing what they 'have' to carry. The left side of the character resembles a person holding something, reinforcing the idea of possession.
Meanings of 有
yǒu(you3)
1to have
2there is
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 有
有Simplified
6Strokes
月Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#11Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L1HSK 3.0L1ElementaryTOCFLL1HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 有
Podcast: 有
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AI study notes for 有
Quick Contrast
有 (yǒu) vs 具有 (jùyǒu) — use 有 for general possession or existence, while 具有 emphasizes possessing specific qualities or characteristics.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 有 with 没有 (méiyǒu), which means 'to not have' or 'there isn't.' It's used in both formal and informal contexts; however, the tone used can change the meaning, so ensure to maintain the third tone when pronouncing it.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 1 word, 有 connects with other basic vocabulary regarding existence and possession, like '没有' (méiyǒu). Focus on using it in simple sentences to describe what you or others have.
Common Mistakes
Learners often forget to use 有 in contexts where possession is implied, such as 'I have a car' (correct: 我有一辆车; wrong: 我一辆车). Additionally, be cautious with tone; saying 有 with the wrong tone can confuse listeners.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 有
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The character 有 (yǒu) means 'to have' or 'to exist,' and is commonly used to indicate possession or existence. It is essential in both written and spoken Mandarin to express what someone possesses or to state that something is present.
When to use 有
Be careful not to confuse 有 with 没有 (méiyǒu), which means 'to not have' or 'there isn't.' It's used in both formal and informal contexts; however, the tone used can change the meaning, so ensure to maintain the third tone when pronouncing it.
有 or something close to it
有 (yǒu) vs 具有 (jùyǒu) — use 有 for general possession or existence, while 具有 emphasizes possessing specific qualities or characteristics.
What learners get wrong
Learners often forget to use 有 in contexts where possession is implied, such as 'I have a car' (correct: 我有一辆车; wrong: 我一辆车). Additionally, be cautious with tone; saying 有 with the wrong tone can confuse listeners.
Write 有
有
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Practice writing 有 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 有
有 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.
I work very efficiently and am decisive, and accurate in my judgement.
10
至少白天我还有别的事情要做。
zhìshǎo báitiān wǒ háiyǒu biéde shìqing yào zuò。
I had other matters to occupy me, during the day at least.
11
我有一个好朋友。
Wǒ yǒu yí gè hǎo péngyǒu.
I have a good friend.
12
你有铅笔吗？
Nǐ yǒu qiānbǐ ma?
Do you have a pencil?
13
他有两只猫。
Tā yǒu liǎng zhī māo.
He has two cats.
14
我们家有四口人。
Wǒmen jiā yǒu sì kǒu rén.
There are four people in my family.
15
他有很多书。
Tā yǒu hěn duō shū.
He has a lot of books.
16
她有一辆新自行车。
Tā yǒu yī liàng xīn zìxíngchē.
She has a new bicycle.
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Cultural Notes for 有
💡Did you know?
'有' is not only used for possession but also for existence. In everyday conversations, you might hear it when asking if something exists, such as '这里有商店吗？' (Is there a store here?).
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of 'having' goes beyond material possession. It often reflects one's relationships and social status, indicating a person's connections in society.
Word Family of 有
Compounds29
郁yùvariant of 鬱
贿huìbribe
肴yáovariant of 肴[yáo]
鲔wěilittle tuna; Euthynnus alletteratus
宥yòuto forgive, to pardon, to indulge
铕yǒueuropium
侑yòuhelp, assist, repay kindness
囿yòuto limit, to constrain; pen, cell
洧wěia river in Henan province
珛xiù
痏wěi
迶yòuto walk
陏duòto accompany, to follow; to listen to; to submit to
哊yòu
姷yòu
峟yòu
戫yù
栯yǒu
殽xiáocooked meat; confused, mixed up
烠huí
絠gǎi
蛕huí
詴wēi
賄huìto bribe; riches, wealth
郩xiáo
酭yòu
銪yǒu
鮪wěilittle tuna; Euthynnus alletteratus
龓lǒng
Words containing this character20
有yǒuto have
没有méiyǒuhaven't沒有
还有háiyǒufurthermore還有
所有suǒyǒuall
有关yǒuguānto relate to有關
有些yǒuxiēsome
有人yǒurénsomeone
具有jùyǒuto have
有点yǒudiǎna little有點
拥有yōngyǒuto have擁有
有效yǒuxiàoeffective
有的yǒudesome (exist)
有趣yǒuqùinteresting
有所yǒusuǒsomewhat
有时yǒushísometimes有時
有时候yǒushíhousometimes有時候
有着yǒuzheto have有著
有限公司yǒuxiàngōngsīlimited company
有意思yǒuyìsiinteresting
持有chíyǒuto hold (passport, views etc)
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 有
What does 贿 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 有
Yes, 有 (yǒu) is often used to indicate existence in Chinese. It can describe the presence of something or someone, such as in the sentence '楼上有一个人' (lóu shàng yǒu yī gè rén), meaning 'There is a person upstairs.'
Yes, 有 (yǒu) appears in various idiomatic expressions in Chinese. For example, '有名' (yǒu míng) means 'famous,' while '有钱' (yǒu qián) means 'wealthy.' These expressions illustrate the versatility of the character in different contexts.
有 (yǒu) means 'to have' or 'to exist' in Chinese. It is commonly used to indicate possession, existence, or availability of something. For example, you can say '我有书' (wǒ yǒu shū), meaning 'I have a book.'
To use 有 (yǒu) in a sentence, you typically structure it as 'subject + 有 + object.' For example, '我有朋友' (wǒ yǒu péngyǒu) means 'I have friends.' You can also use it to indicate existence, such as '这里有一个公园' (zhè lǐ yǒu yī gè gōngyuán), meaning 'There is a park here.'
You can use 有 to say 'I have a book' by saying '我有一本书' (wǒ yǒu yī běn shū).
Yes, you can ask questions using 有. For example, '你有时间吗?' (Nǐ yǒu shíjiān ma?) means 'Do you have time?'.
The opposite of 有 is 没有 (méiyǒu), which means 'to not have'.
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