Using Yǒu to Express Existence

Grammar Point:
The Chinese language features the “you sentence,” which is known as 有字句 yǒuzìjù. The word 有 yǒu has many functions. In this article, we are going to talk about “to have” and “existence.” have has in Chinese

Structure

S + 有 yǒu + O

This simple structure can express ownership. As Chinese does not have verb conjugation, it can be translated into English as have, has, or had.

我wǒ以前yǐqián有yǒu一yì隻zhī狗gǒu我wǒ以前yǐqián有yǒu一yì只zhī狗gǒu
I had a dog before.

姊姊jiějie有yǒuiPhone手機shǒujī姐姐jiějie有yǒuiPhone手机shǒujī
My sister has an iPhone.

你nǐ有yǒu500塊kuài錢qián嗎ma？你nǐ有yǒu500块kuài钱qián吗ma？
Do you have $500?

你nǐ有yǒu空kòng嗎ma？你nǐ有yǒu空kòng吗ma？
Do you have time? (Casual way to ask.)

一yí個ge星期xīngqí有yǒu七qī天tiān一yí个ge星期xīngqī有yǒu七qī天tiān
One week has seven days. = There are seven days a week.

你nǐ有yǒu病bìng嗎ma？ 你nǐ有yǒu病bìng吗ma？
Ara you sick? (Are you crazy?)

FYI
Have you ever heard your Chinese friend say “你有病嗎吗 nǐ yǒu bìng ma?” or “你有事嗎吗 nǐ yǒu shì ma?” when you did something crazy or unusual? These phrases are often used playfully to express disbelief or challenge someone’s behavior.

So, imagine your friend decides to learn Chinese, Japanese, and Korean all at once. You could respond with “你有病嗎吗 nǐ yǒu bìng ma?”, which means something like “Are you crazy?” Or, if you see your friend doing something odd or unexpected, you might say “你有事嗎吗 nǐ yǒu shì ma?”, which is like asking “What’s going on with you?”

Therefore, don’t be offended if your Chinese friend uses these phrases with you – they’re just having fun and showing their playful side!

Place + 有 yǒu + O

This structure is similar to saying “there is” or “there are” in English.

我家wǒjiā有yǒu4個ge人rén我家wǒjiā有yǒu4口kǒu人rén
There are 4 members in my family.

桌zhuō上shàng有yǒu兩liǎng本běn書shū桌zhuō上shàng有yǒu两liǎng本běn书shū
There are two books on the table.

你的nǐde學校xuéxiào有yǒu外國wàiguó學生xuéshēng嗎ma？ 你的nǐde学校xuéxiào有yǒu外国wàiguó学生xuésheng吗ma？
Are there foreign students at your school?

( 廁所cèsuǒ裡lǐ) 有yǒu人rén嗎ma？ ( 厕所cèsuǒ里lǐ) 有yǒu人rén吗ma？
Is there anyone in the toilet?
(Some Chinese old ladies really don’t like to knock on doors. They prefer to yell when they need to use the toilet…)

Negation

Regular Structure

To negate the verb 有 yǒu, it is different from other verbs as you always use 沒没 méi and do not use 不 bù.

老師lǎoshī沒有méiyǒu男朋友nánpéngyǒu老师lǎoshī没有méiyǒu男朋友nánpéngyou
The teacher does not have a boyfriend.

咖啡店kāfēidiàn沒有méiyǒu人rén咖啡店kāfēidiàn没有méiyǒu人rén
No one is in the cafe.

我wǒ沒有méiyǒu時間shíjiān我wǒ没有méiyǒu时间shíjiān
I don’t have time.

Short Form Structure

沒没有 méiyǒu can be shortened to 沒没 méi without changing any meaning in both spoken and written.

我wǒ沒méi錢qián、 沒méi工作gōngzuò、 沒méi男朋友nánpéngyǒu、 沒méi未來wèilái我wǒ没méi钱qián、 没méi工作gōngzuò、 没méi男朋友nánpéngyou、 没méi未来wèilái
I have no money, no job, no boyfriend, no future.

他tā沒méi想法xiǎngfǎ他tā没méi想法xiǎngfǎ
He has no idea.

Common Mistakes

他tā不bù有yǒu中文zhōngwén書shū他tā不bù有yǒu中文zhōngwén书shū X
He does not have Chinese books.

Remember always negate 有 yǒu with 沒没 méi.

• Negation word：不bù and 沒méi (HSK 1)

• Using Yǒu to Express Estimation (HSK 2)

• Existential Subject with 有 yǒu (HSK 2)

• Using Yǒu to Express Attachment (HSK 5)