Existential Subject with 有 yǒu

Grammar Point:
In Chinese, we use 有 yǒu to talk about the existence of something without specifying what it is. After 有 yǒu we describe what the thing does or is like.

Structure

有 + (Number + MW) + N

有yǒu一天yìtiān有yǒu一天yìtiān
One day

有yǒu三sān隻zhī狗gǒu有yǒu三sān只zhī狗gǒu
There are three dogs.

有yǒu一個人yígerén來lái找zhǎo你nǐ有yǒu一个人yígerén来lái找zhǎo你nǐ
Someone is coming to see you.

有yǒu天tiān你nǐ會huì知道zhīdào我的wǒde好hǎo有yǒu天tiān你nǐ会huì知道zhīdao我的wǒde好hǎo
One day you will know my kindness.

有yǒu人rén住zhù在zài這裡zhèlǐ嗎ma？ 有yǒu人rén住zhù在zài这里zhèlǐ吗ma？
Is anyone living here?

有yǒu沒有méiyǒu人rén要yào喝hē咖啡kāfēi？ 有yǒu没有méiyǒu人rén要yào喝hē咖啡kāfēi？
Does anyone want coffee?

有yǒu沒有méiyǒu地方dìfāng我wǒ可以kěyǐ帶dài狗gǒu去qù？ 有yǒu没有méiyǒu地方dìfang我wǒ可以kěyǐ带dài狗gǒu去qù？
Is there anywhere I can take my dog?

Negation

沒有méiyǒu人rén要yào跟gēn你nǐ去qù日本rìběn没有méiyǒu人rén要yào跟gēn你nǐ去qù日本rìběn
No one wants to go to Japan with you.

沒有méiyǒu一個yíge地方dìfāng可以kěyǐ帶dài狗gǒu没有méiyǒu一个yíge地方dìfang可以kěyǐ带dài狗gǒu
There is nowhere to take the dog.

沒有méiyǒu學生xuéshēng喜歡xǐhuān你nǐ没有méiyǒu学生xuésheng喜欢xǐhuan你nǐ
No students like you.

Compare These Two

有yǒu一本yìběn書shū在zài桌zhuō上shàng有yǒu一本yìběn书shū在zài桌zhuō上shang
It focuses on the existence of a book on the table. It can be translated as “There is a book on the table.”

有yǒu一本yìběn書shū在zài桌zhuō上shàng， 你nǐ可以kěyǐ拿ná去qù看kàn有yǒu一本yìběn书shū在zài桌zhuō上shang， 你nǐ可以kěyǐ拿ná去qù看kàn ❌
The issue with the sentence lies in the connection between these two parts. While the first part establishes the existence of the book on the table, the second part suggests an action (taking the book to read) without clearly specifying that the book on the table is the one to be taken.

桌zhuō上shàng有yǒu一yì本běn書shū桌zhuō上shang有yǒu一yì本běn书shū
It focuses on the location of the book, emphasizing that it is on the table. It can be translated as “On the table, there is a book.”

桌zhuō上shàng有yǒu一yì本běn書shū， 你nǐ可以kěyǐ拿ná去qù看kàn桌zhuō上shang有yǒu一yì本běn书shū， 你nǐ可以kěyǐ拿ná去qù看kàn ✅
This way, the action of taking and reading the book is directly linked to the book that is on the table, making the sentence more clear and coherent.

• Negation word：不bù and 沒méi (HSK 1)

• Using Yǒu to Express Existence (HSK 1)

• Using Yǒu to Express Estimation (HSK 2)

• Using Yǒu to Express Attachment (HSK 5)