有
to have; there is
yǒu
What does 有 mean?
有 (yǒu) is the verb 'to have' and also 'there is / there are.' Two patterns to learn at HSK 1. Possession: 我有一个哥哥 'I have one older brother.' Existence: 桌子上有一本书 'There is a book on the table' — the location goes first, then 有, then what exists. The unique catch is the negation: 有 is the ONLY Chinese verb that does NOT take 不 (bù). To say 'don't have / there isn't,' you must use 没 (méi): 没有, never 不有. This is a hard rule with no exceptions. The yes-no question form is either 有…吗? or 有没有…? — 你有没有钱? 'Do you have money?' 有 is also used in the formal opening 'there are…' for statements and as part of dozens of common compounds (有的 'some,' 有时候 'sometimes,' 有意思 'interesting').
Character breakdown
to have; to exist
Memory hook: 有 looks like a hand 又 holding meat 月 — to hold meat is to 'have' it. Possession.
Example sentences
我有一个妹妹。
Wǒ yǒu yí ge mèimei.
I have a younger sister.
neutral
桌子上有一本书。
Zhuōzi shàng yǒu yì běn shū.
There's a book on the table.
neutral
你有时间吗？
Nǐ yǒu shíjiān ma?
Do you have time?
spoken
我没有钱。
Wǒ méi yǒu qián.
I don't have any money.
spoken
Common phrases with 有
Don't confuse 有 with
是 links two nouns ('A is B'); 有 expresses possession or existence ('A has B / there is B'). 这是书 'This is a book' vs 我有书 'I have a book.'
在 says where something is; 有 says that something exists. 书在桌子上 'The book is on the desk' vs 桌子上有书 'There is a book on the desk.' Subject and information swap.
Looks like part of 有 but means 'again / also.' Different character, different word. 我又来了 'I came again' uses 又, not 有.