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4.8: Lesson 3 Grammar - Expressing existence with 有 (yǒu)

  • Page ID
    65627
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    The verb 有 (yǒu), which means "to have," can also be used to express existence. This is similar to saying "there is" or "there are" in English.

    Structure 

    Literally, this structure expresses that a place "has" a thing, which is to say, that thing is in the place.

    Place + 有 + Obj.

    Examples 

    • 我家有很多小狗。
      Wǒ jiā yǒu hěn duō xiǎo gǒu.
      There are a lot of puppies in my home.
       
    • 我們學校有很多帥哥 。
      Wǒmen xuéxiào yǒu hěn duō shuàigē.
      There are a lot of cute guys in our school.
       
    • 日本有很多中國人。
      Rìběn yǒu hěn duō Zhōngguó rén.
      There are many Chinese people in Japan.
       
    • 你家有牛奶嗎?
      Nǐ jiā yǒu niúnǎi ma?
      Is there milk in your house?
       
    • 這裡有一個問題。
      Zhèlǐ yǒu yī gè wèntí.
      There is a problem here.
       
    • 房間裡有人嗎?
      Fángjiān lǐ yǒu rén ma?
      Is there anyone in the room?
       
    • 杯子裡有水嗎?
      Bēizi lǐ yǒu shuǐ ma?
      Is there any water in the cup?
       
    • 我的手機裡有你的號碼。
      Wǒ de shǒujī lǐ yǒu nǐ de hàomǎ.
      Your number is in my cell phone.
       
    • 現在辦公室裡有人嗎?
      Xiànzài bàngōngshì lǐ yǒu rén ma?
      Is there anyone in the office now?

    [adapted from AllSet Learning Chinese Grammar Wiki, Creative Commons License BY-NC-SA 3.0]

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    Any Questions? 

    If you have any questions about this grammar point, please ask in the class forums!


    This page titled 4.8: Lesson 3 Grammar - Expressing existence with 有 (yǒu) is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Carl Polley (裴凯).