Expressing existence with "you"

The verb 有 (yǒu), which means "to have," can also be used to express existence. This is similar to saying "there is" or "there are" in English.

Structure

Literally, this structure expresses that a place "has" a thing, which is to say, that thing is in the place.

Place + 有 + Obj.

Examples

• 我 家 有 很 多 小 狗。Wǒ jiā yǒu hěn duō xiǎo gǒu.There are a lot of puppies in my home.
• 我们 学校 有 很 多 帅哥 。Wǒmen xuéxiào yǒu hěn duō shuàigē.There are a lot of cute guys in our school.
• 日本 有 很 多 中国人。 Rìběn yǒu hěn duō Zhōngguó rén.There are many Chinese people in Japan.
• 这 个 酒吧 有 很 多 美女。Zhège jiǔbā yǒu hěn duō měinǚ.There are a lot of pretty girls in this bar.
• 你 家 有 牛奶 吗？Nǐ jiā yǒu niúnǎi ma?Is there milk in your house?
• 这里 有 一 个 问题。Zhèlǐ yǒu yī gè wèntí.There is a problem here.
• 房间 里 有 人 吗？Fángjiān lǐ yǒu rén ma?Is there anyone in the room?
• 杯子 里 有 水 吗？Bēizi lǐ yǒu shuǐ ma?Is there any water in the cup?
• 我 的 手机 里 有 你 的 号码。Wǒ de shǒujī lǐ yǒu nǐ de hàomǎ.Your number is in my cell phone.
• 现在 办公室 里 有 人 吗？Xiànzài bàngōngshì lǐ yǒu rén ma?Is there anyone in the office now?

See also

• Expressing existence

Sources and further reading

• Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 87-8) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 53) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1) (pp. 105) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed) (pp. 122-3) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2) (pp. 155) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• 40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课下册） (pp. 300-1) [ →buy]
• 40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册） (pp. 62, 73) [ →buy]