Expressing existence with "you"

有 (yǒu) can mean "to have," but it's also used to express existence.

Structure

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

Place + 有 + Object

Examples

• 那里 有 啤酒 吗？Is there beer there?
• 日本 有 很 多 中国人。 There are many Chinese people in Japan.
• 这里 有 错误。There is a mistake here.

See also

• Expressing existence

Sources and further reading

Books

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