Using Yǒu to Express Estimation

Grammar Point:
The “you sentence” is known as 有字句 yǒuzìjù in Chinese. The word 有 yǒu serves multiple functions, including expressing estimates and constructing comparative sentences, which will be the focus of this article. you sentence

Structure

S + 有 yǒu + Number

When you are trying to express an approximation or rough estimate of a number or value, you can use this structure.

他tā有yǒu一米八yìmǐbā高gāo他tā有yǒu一米八yìmǐbā高gāo
He’s 180 cm. (I think)

他tā有yǒu三十sānshí多duō歲suì他tā有yǒu三十sānshí多duō岁suì
He is over 30 years old. (I think)

你nǐ房間fángjiān有yǒu我wǒ5 個ge房間fángjiān大dà吧ba你nǐ房间fángjiān有yǒu我wǒ5 个ge房间fángjiān大dà吧ba
Your room is probably five times bigger than mine.

With 有 and Without 有

他tā有yǒu一米八yìmǐbā高gāo他tā有yǒu一米八yìmǐbā高gāo
He’s 180 cm. (I think)

他tā一米八yìmǐbā高gāo他tā一米八yìmǐbā高gāo
He’s 180 cm. (I know)

這zhè塊kuài肉ròu有yǒu一斤yìjīn重zhòng这zhè块kuài肉ròu有yǒu一斤yìjīn重zhòng
This piece of meat weighs 600g. (guessing)

這zhè塊kuài肉ròu一斤yìjīn重zhòng这zhè块kuài肉ròu一斤yìjīn重zhòng
This piece of meat weighs 600g. (for sure)

Comparative Sentence

A + 有 + B + (這麼/这么, 那麼/那么) + Adj.

The word 有 yǒu can be used in comparative sentences. The good news is that in Chinese, 那麼么 nàme and 這麼这么 zhème serve the same function, so there’s no need to distinguish between them.

你的nǐde手機shǒujī有yǒu我的wǒde(手機)(shǒujī)那麼nàme貴guì嗎ma？ 你的nǐde手机shǒujī有yǒu我的wǒde(手机)(shǒujī)那么nàme贵guì吗ma？
Is your phone as expensive as mine?

他家tājiā的de廁所cèsuǒ有yǒu我家wǒjiā的de房間fángjiān這麼zhème大dà！ 他家tājiā的de厕所cèsuǒ有yǒu我家wǒjiā的de房间fángjiān这么zhème大dà！
His washroom is as big as my bedroom.

學xué中文zhōngwén有yǒu學xué英文yīngwén那麼nàme難nán嗎ma？ 学xué中文zhōngwén有yǒu学xué英文yīngwén那么nàme难nán吗ma？
Is learning Chinese as difficult as learning English?

他tā有yǒu我wǒ這麼zhème愛ài你nǐ嗎ma？ 他tā有yǒu我wǒ这么zhème爱ài你nǐ吗ma？
Does he love you as much as I do?

• Using Yǒu to Express Existence (HSK 1)

• Existential Subject with 有 yǒu (HSK 2)

• Using Yǒu to Express Attachment (HSK 5)