没有
没not有have or exist=do not have; there is not
有
有 (yǒu) Chinese Character: to have, there is
Imagine holding something in your hand: you 有 it.
Practice 有 in the interactive lessonChinese character story: Something in Your Hand
有 (yǒu) means “to have” or “there is.” Its early structure has been explained as a hand holding a piece of meat — a concrete picture of possessing something. Modern Chinese uses it constantly: 我有书, “I have a book,” and 这里有水, “There is water here.”
🧩 Word buildingSee what every part contributes
Chinese words often combine short meaning clues. Fixed expressions are clearly marked so you do not translate them too literally.
有人
有there is人person=someone is here or there are people
Chinese character origin and etymology
有 is documented as a character built from meaningful or phonetic parts. Its earlier written forms gradually became the regular-script shape used today.
In modern simplified Chinese, 有 is written with 6 strokes. This lesson separates documented shape history from the memory story so learners do not mistake a mnemonic for a historical claim. 有 contains 𠂇 and 月. These parts act like clues: a component may suggest a meaning category, a pronunciation, or simply preserve part of the character's historical structure.
Chinese character stroke order and structure
有 is written with 6 strokes. Learn the complete stroke sequence in the interactive lesson, then write the character from memory before checking your answer.
- 𠂇 — hand-like upper component
- 月 — historically related to meat in this character
Common usage and sentence patterns
The examples below show 有 in complete beginner-friendly sentences. Read each sentence aloud, notice where the character appears, and then replace one noun or number to create a new sentence of your own.
我有一本书。
I have a book.
桌子上有水。
There is water on the table.
这个办法很有用。
This method is very useful.
Learning tips for 有
Learn the reading as one unit: yǒu, with the third tone: falling then rising. Avoid memorizing the letters without the tone mark. Say the syllable, recall the English meaning “to have, there is,” and write the 6 strokes from memory.
Because 有 contains reusable components, identify those clues before memorizing the whole shape. Compare it with 月 (yuè, moon; the lower shape in modern 有); 没 (méi, not have — 没有); 友 (yǒu, friend — similar top and sound). Similar characters are easier to remember when their different parts and meanings are studied side by side.
Quick review checklist
- Can you recognize 有 without pinyin?
- Can you say yǒu with the correct tone and explain “to have, there is”?
- Can you write all 6 strokes in order?
- Can you use 有 in one short sentence?
Related characters
Learn 有 in a themed collection
Compare this character with related beginner words. A themed path helps you notice useful pairs, word-building patterns, and everyday contexts.
Continue learning Chinese characters
Use the Chinese radicals and components guide to understand reusable parts, the stroke order guide to improve handwriting, and the HSK 1 character overview to choose your next beginner lesson.
Sources and editorial note
HanziStory separates documented character history from modern memory stories. Historical-form images are shown only when a matching source file is available; missing stages are skipped rather than invented. Stroke practice uses HanziWriter data.
Last updated: August 12, 2026. Read our sources, editorial method, and correction policy.