Expressing possession with "you"

有 (yǒu) can be used in various ways, but the most basic meaning of this verb you need to know is "to have."

Structure

Subj. + 有 + Noun

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 有 车。Tā yǒu chē.She has a car.
• 他 有 女 朋友 吗？ Tā yǒu nǚpéngyou ma?Does he have a girlfriend?
• 他 有 一 个 太太。Tā yǒu yīgè tàitài.He has a wife.
• 他 有 两 个 女儿 。Tā yǒu liǎng gè nǚ'ér.He has two daughters.
• 他 有 很 多 小狗。Tā yǒu hěnduō xiǎo gǒu.He has many puppies.
• 你 有 什么？Nǐ yǒu shénme?What do you have?
• 你 有 iPad 吗？Nǐ yǒu iPad ma?Do you have an iPad?
• 你 有 工作 吗？Nǐ yǒu gōngzuò ma?Do you have a job?

Negating 有

The verb 有 (yǒu) is negated in a special way. It is not negated with 不 (bù), like most verbs; it is negated with 没 (méi). The negative form of 有 (yǒu) is 没有 (méiyǒu). For more on that topic, see our article on negation of "you".

See also

• Expressing existence
• Negation of "you"

Sources and further reading

• Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 87-8) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (p. 53) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1) (p. 105) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed) (pp. 122-3) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2) (p. 155) →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