有 yǒu — have, possess · English

有

yǒu

have, possess

At a glance · 有

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Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.

有字甲骨文从又（手）从肉，会意为持有、拥有；本义为具有、存在。金文、小篆承之。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

有本义为持有、具有，引申为存在。

Structure

会意字，从又（手）从肉，表示手持肉，即拥有。

At a glance

Pinyinyǒu

Radical月

Strokes6

UnicodeU+6709

Character type会意

Theme状态

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English have, possess You is an associative character of a hand holding meat, meaning to have and possess.

Français avoir, posséder You est un caractère associatif d'une main tenant de la viande, signifiant avoir et posséder.

Español tener, poseer You es un carácter asociativo de una mano sosteniendo carne, significa tener y poseer.

العربية يملك، يمتلك يو حرف تركيبي ليد تمسك لحماً، يعني الامتلاك والوجود.

Русский иметь, обладать Ю — ассоциативный знак руки, держащей мясо, означает иметь и обладать.

Common words

没有méi yǒunot have
有趣yǒu qùinteresting

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