有

yǒu

月 + 𠂇

HSK 2.0Level 1

HSK 3.0Level 1

Definitions

yǒu (verb) to have; to possess

yǒu (verb) there is; there are; there exists

Etymology

Depicts a hand (又) holding meat (肉). In Oracle script this character was written the same as the phonetically similar 又, but later the 肉 component was added to distinguish them.

Phonetic: 月

About

The character 有 is an ideogram combining an upper component for a right hand (𠂇) and a lower component for meat (月), depicting a hand holding meat to symbolize possession. Its primary meaning is "to have" or "to possess", and it also functions existentially to indicate "there is" or "there are". Grammatically, it can help form certain tenses or express degrees of comparison when paired with specific adjectives.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Warring States (~400 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Warring States (~300 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我有一本书。

Wǒ yǒu yī běn shū.

I have a book.

房子里有一只猫。

Fángzi lǐ yǒu yī zhī māo.

There is a cat in the house.

你有时间吗？

Nǐ yǒu shíjiān ma?

Do you have time?

他有很多朋友。

Tā yǒu hěn duō péngyou.

He has many friends.

我们有希望。

Wǒmen yǒu xīwàng.

We have hope.

如果你有钱就可以买。

Rúguǒ nǐ yǒu qián jiù kěyǐ mǎi.

If you have money, you can buy it.

我没有任何问题。

Wǒ méiyǒu rènhé wèntí.

I don't have any questions.

有很多人有这个想法。

Yǒu hěn duō rén yǒu zhège xiǎngfǎ.

There are many people who have this idea.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 月

Component: 𠂇

Example Words