Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
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
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
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
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
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.
Memory Mnemonic
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.
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.
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.
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
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 有 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 有 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
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 had other matters to occupy me, during the day at least.
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?).
🏮Cultural insight
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.
🌏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yu4variant of 鬱
贿hui4bribe
肴yao2variant of 肴[yáo]
鲔wei3little tuna; Euthynnus alletteratus
宥you4to forgive, to pardon, to indulge
铕you3europium
侑you4help, assist, repay kindness
囿you4to limit, to constrain; pen, cell
洧wei3a river in Henan province
珛
痏
迶you4to walk
陏duo4to accompany, to follow; to listen to; to submit to
哊
姷
峟
戫
栯
殽xiao2cooked meat; confused, mixed up
烠
絠
蛕
詴
賄hui4to bribe; riches, wealth
郩
酭
銪
鮪wei3little tuna; Euthynnus alletteratus
龓
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some
有人yǒurénsomeone
具有jùyǒuto have
有点a little有點
拥有yōngyǒuto have擁有
有效yǒuxiàoeffective
有的yǒudesome (exist)
有趣yǒuqùinteresting
有所yǒusuǒsomewhat
有时sometimes有時
有时候sometimes有時候
有着yǒuzheto have有著
有限公司limited company
有意思yǒuyìsiinteresting
持有chíyǒuto hold (passport, views etc)
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 郁 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'.
