有
to have; there is; (bound form) having; with; -ful; -ed; -al (as in 有意[you3 yi4] intentional)
Closest English meanings
have·exist·there is·possess·own
The Calligrapher — Lù Jiǎnzhī 陆柬之
Tang calligrapher and nephew of Yu Shinan; his running-script 'Essay on Literature' survives
Tang calligrapher (), master of running script — known for 《文赋》. Tang dynasty
Cultural Story
有 is the possession and the being. 没有 the lack; 有人 'someone,' the other who appears. 有用 the useful; 有趣 the fun. 朋友 the friend; 所有 the whole. The word is the having and the there-is — the cup, the companion, the lot. The Shuowen sees the hand and the flesh. A single character for the is and the owns, the world counted as present.
Common words & phrases
- 没有 not have · there isn't · no · lack
- 有人 someone · somebody · a person
- 有用 useful · helpful · practical
- 有趣 interesting · fun · amusing
- 朋友 friend · companion · pal
- 所有 all · everything · possessed · owned
Read the story behind the character
没有 is the 'no'; 有人 the 'someone.' 有用 the tool; 有趣 the post. 朋友 the feed; 所有 the lot. The word runs the denial and the claim — the lack, the whole. From the text to the inventory, 有 is the have and the there-is, the friend who shows and the stuff you own, both a presence the world grants and the ledger records, plainly, as mine.
Own this character
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