有 meaning and stroke order
To have; there is; (bound form) having; with; -ful; -ed; -al (as in 有意[you3 yi4] intentional)
How to write 有, stroke by stroke
6 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 有
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to have; there is
- (bound form) having; with; -ful; -ed; -al (as in 有意[you3 yi4] intentional)
How 有 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character.
月 hints at the sound.
Radical: 月 (moon), shared by 14 characters on this site.
How to remember 有
The bottom part of 有 is 月, which the data lists as the sound component, and the top looks like a hand reaching over it. Picture a hand grabbing hold of something to show that you have it.
有 (yǒu) means both "to have" and "there is," so it covers possession and existence. It also forms adjectives like 有用 (yǒuyòng, useful) and 有名 (yǒumíng, famous). Example: 我有一个哥哥。(Wǒ yǒu yí gè gēge.) I have an older brother.
Common mistake: Learners often negate 有 with 不 and say 不有, but the only correct negative is 没有 (méiyǒu). Also watch the shape: the top strokes of 有 are like 左 without the 工, so do not mix it up with 左 (zuǒ) or 布 (bù).
Common words with 有
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 没有 | méiyǒu | haven't; hasn't | HSK 1 |
| 还有 | hái yǒu | there still remain(s); there is (or are) still; in addition | HSK 1 |
| 有些 | yǒuxiē | some; somewhat; rather; a bit | HSK 1 |
| 有时 | yǒushí | sometimes; now and then | HSK 1 |
| 有时候 | yǒushíhou | sometimes | HSK 1 |
| 有用 | yǒuyòng | useful | HSK 1 |
| 有名 | yǒumíng | famous; well-known | HSK 1 |
| 有的 | yǒude | (there are) some (who are...); some (exist) | HSK 1 |
| 有一些 | yǒuyīxiē | somewhat; rather | HSK 1 |
| 所有 | suǒyǒu | all; to have; to possess; to own | HSK 2 |
| 有人 | yǒu rén | someone; people | HSK 2 |
| 有意思 | yǒu yìsi | interesting; meaningful | HSK 2 |
| 有点儿 | yǒudiǎnr | slightly; a little | HSK 2 |
| 有空儿 | yǒukòngr | erhua form of 有空[you3 kong4] | HSK 2 |
有 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 有
Learning 有 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 有
How many strokes are in 有?
有 is written with 6 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 有 mean?
有 (yǒu) means to have; there is; (bound form) having; with; -ful; -ed; -al (as in 有意[you3 yi4] intentional). A common word with it is 没有 (méiyǒu), meaning "haven't; hasn't".
How do you pronounce 有?
有 is pronounced yǒu, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 有?
The radical of 有 is 月, which carries the idea of "moon". Dictionaries list 有 under this radical.
Is 有 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 有 is part of the HSK 1 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 1.
How do I say "there is" in Chinese?
Put the place first, then 有, then the thing. For example, 桌子上有一本书 (zhuōzi shang yǒu yì běn shū) means there is a book on the table.
What is the difference between 有 and 在?
有 says that something exists in a place, while 在 (zài) says where a known thing is located. Compare 房间里有猫 (there is a cat in the room) with 猫在房间里 (the cat is in the room).