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有 (yǒu): "to have" and "there is"

有 means "have" (我有一个哥哥) and, after a place, "there is" (桌子上有一本书).

Person + 有 + thing is possession.

Place + 有 + thing means "there is / there are". Put the place first.

有 is negated with 没, never 不: 没有.

Pattern: Person / place + 有 + noun

Practice this lesson

Updated October 21, 2026

Examples

• 你有中文书吗？ Nǐ yǒu Zhōngwén shū ma?
  Do you have Chinese books?
• 这里有很多人。 Zhèlǐ yǒu hěn duō rén.
  There are a lot of people here.

In real sentences

• 有！
  Here!
  Tatoeba: LeviHighway
• 有吗？
  Is that so?
  Tatoeba: grindeldore
• 我有空。
  I'm free.
  Tatoeba: ruicong
• 你有病！
  You're sick!
  Tatoeba: fucongcong
• 有罢工。
  There is a strike.
  Tatoeba: fucongcong
• 有多宽？
  How wide is it?
  Tatoeba: fercheung

Before this lesson

This unlocks after: HSK 1 Actions 1, The four tones.

← 想, 要, 会, 能: want, will, can在 (zài): where something is or happens →