Meaning of 没有
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- haven't
- hasn't
- doesn't exist
- to not have
- to not be
How to use 没有
Use 没有 to say you don't have something or that something doesn't exist, and before a verb to say an action did not happen or has not happened yet. In speech it is often shortened to 没 (méi). Example: 我没有钱。 (Wǒ méiyǒu qián.) I don't have money.
没有 is simply 没 (méi, not) plus 有 (yǒu, to have), so it means "not have." Picture 有 as a hand holding something, and 没 taking it away.
Common mistake: Learners often say 不有 for "don't have," but 有 is only ever negated with 没, never 不. Another trap is using 没有 for the future or for habits; 我明天没有去 is wrong, and it should be 我明天不去.
没有 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
没 méi · have not · 7 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
有 yǒu · to have · 6 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Related words
Words that share a character with 没有.
| 还有 | hái yǒu | there still remain(s); there is (or are) still; in addition |
| 没什么 | méi shénme | it doesn't matter; it's nothing; never mind; think nothing of it; it's my pleasure; you're |
| 有些 | yǒuxiē | some; somewhat; rather; a bit |
| 没关系 | méi guānxi | it doesn't matter |
| 有时 | yǒushí | sometimes; now and then |
| 有时候 | yǒushíhou | sometimes |
| 有用 | yǒuyòng | useful |
| 有名 | yǒumíng | famous; well-known |
| 没事儿 | méishìr | to have spare time; free from work |
| 有的 | yǒude | (there are) some (who are...); some (exist) |
| 有一些 | yǒuyīxiē | somewhat; rather |
| 所有 | suǒyǒu | all; to have; to possess; to own |
Questions about 没有
What does 没有 mean?
没有 (méiyǒu) means "haven't; hasn't" and is used as a verb and adverb.
How do you write 没有?
没有 is made of 2 characters: 没 (7 strokes), 有 (6 strokes). That is 13 strokes in total.
Is 没有 an HSK word?
Yes. 没有 is on the HSK 1 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 没有 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 没有 is written 沒有.
How do I use 没有 to talk about the past?
Put 没有 or 没 before the verb to say something did not happen, and drop 了. For example, 我没有吃饭 (wǒ méiyǒu chī fàn) means "I didn't eat" or "I haven't eaten."
Can 没有 be used to compare things?
Yes. The pattern A 没有 B + adjective means A is not as adjective as B. For example, 我没有他高 (wǒ méiyǒu tā gāo) means "I am not as tall as him."