Chinese Verb "有" (yǒu)

to have / there is

Possession verb

Basic Usage

Possession

Subject + 有 + object

我有两个哥哥。

Wǒ yǒu liǎng gè gēge.

I have two older brothers.

Existence

Place + 有 + object

桌子上有一本书。

Zhuōzi shàng yǒu yì běn shū.

There is a book on the table.

Completed Action (了 (le))

Past context

有 with time word for past

以前我有一只猫。

Yǐqián wǒ yǒu yì zhī māo.

I had a cat before.

Experience (过 (guò))

Experience with 过

有 + 过 is uncommon; use context

我有过这种经历。

Wǒ yǒu guò zhè zhǒng jīnglì.

I have had this kind of experience.

Ongoing Action (在/着)

Current state

有 expresses a state, not an action

他现在有很多钱。

Tā xiànzài yǒu hěn duō qián.

He has a lot of money now.

Future / Intent (会/要/想)

Future with 会

Subject + 会 + 有

你会有机会的。

Nǐ huì yǒu jīhuì de.

You will have the opportunity.

Negation (不/没)

Negative with 没

Subject + 没有 + object

我没有时间。

Wǒ méi yǒu shíjiān.

I don't have time.

Common Compounds & Related Words

Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning
没有	méi yǒu	don't have / there isn't
有的	yǒu de	some
所有	suǒyǒu	all / every
有意思	yǒu yìsi	interesting

Example Sentences

你有几个孩子？

Nǐ yǒu jǐ gè háizi?

How many children do you have?

这里有很多人。

Zhèlǐ yǒu hěn duō rén.

There are many people here.

有什么问题吗？

Yǒu shénme wèntí ma?

Are there any questions?