有

To Have

Level 1Sounds Like jau5

有 (jau5) is used for possession ('to have'), existence ('there is/are'), or affirming past events ('did do'). Remember: never negate it with 唔 (m4); always use 冇 (mou5) instead!

How It Works

The verb 有 (jau5) is one of the most fundamental words in Cantonese grammar, serving four main functions:

1. Possessive Verb ('To have')
Used when a subject owns or possesses something.
• Structure: [Subject] + 有 (jau5) + [Noun Phrase]
• Example: 我有兩個細佬 (ngo5 jau5 loeng5 go3 sai3 lou2) = 'I have two younger brothers.'

2. Existential Verb ('There is / There are')
Used to state that something exists at a location or time.
• Structure: [Location / Time] + 有 (jau5) + [Noun Phrase]
• Example: 間房入面有張枱 (gaan1 fong2 jap6 min6 jau5 zoeng1 toi2) = 'There is a table inside the room.'
• Difference from 喺 (hai2): Use 喺 to locate a specific known item ('The chair is here'), but use 有 to announce existence ('There is a chair here').

3. Past Affirmation ('Did do / Did occur')
Placed directly before a verb, 有 serves as a standard non-aspectual past affirmative assertion, stating that an action occurred. It is the natural positive response to questions asked with 有冇 (jau5 mou5) or general past queries.
• Structure: [Subject] + 有 (jau5) + [Verb Phrase]
• Example: 我琴日有去上堂 (ngo5 kam4 jat6 jau5 heoi3 soeng5 tong4) = 'I went to class yesterday.'

4. Comparative Equality ('As ... as')
Used to state that someone or something reaches the same degree as another.
• Structure: [Subject A] + 有 (jau5) + [Subject B] + 咁 + [Adjective]
• Example: 我有佢咁高 (ngo5 jau5 keoi5 gam3 gou1) = 'I am as tall as him.'

Negation Rule:
You cannot negate 有 with 唔 (m4). The negative form of 有 is strictly replaced by 冇 (mou5). To ask a yes/no question, combine them into 有冇 (jau5 mou5).

Examples (5)

  1. 我有兩個細佬。

    I have two younger brothers.

    Word by Word: I have two [classifier] younger-brother

    Shows possession of family members using 有 (jau5).

  2. 間房入面有張枱。

    There is a table inside the room.

    Word by Word: [Classifier] room inside have [classifier] table

    Shows existence of an item inside a location using colloquial Cantonese 間房入面 (gaan1 fong2 jap6 min6) and 有 (jau5).

  3. 我琴日有去上堂。

    I went to class yesterday.

    Word by Word: I yesterday have go attend class

    Uses 有 (jau5) before the verb 去 (heoi3) to affirm that the past action occurred.

  4. 呢度有好多人。

    There are a lot of people here.

    Word by Word: Here have many people

    Combines a location (呢度) with 有 to express existence.

  5. 佢有問題想問。

    He has a question he wants to ask.

    Word by Word: He have question want ask

    Shows possession of abstract items like questions or time.

Common Mistakes

  • Negating 有 (jau5) with 唔 (m4) to make *唔有.

    我唔有錢。
    我冇錢。

    In Cantonese, 有 (jau5) is never negated with 唔 (m4). You must replace it completely with 冇 (mou5).

  • Combining location 喺 (hai2) redundantly with 有 (jau5).

    呢度喺有位。
    呢度有位。

    To express 'there are seats here', place the location directly before 有 (jau5). Do not insert 喺 (hai2) before 有.

  • Translating English 'have' literally for age or physical states.

    我有二十歲。
    我二十歲。

    In Cantonese, express age directly without a verb ([Subject] + [Age] + 歲). Do not use 有 (jau5).

How It Connects

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有Level 1To Have

Learn This First

The verb '有' (to have) is a foundational Cantonese pattern. To use it correctly, learners need to understand basic SVO word order and how to use classifiers when specifying the number of items possessed.

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