(méi yǒu) - do not have; have not; not (past negation) in Mandarin
méiyǒuTraditional: 沒有
Translation
do not have; have not; not (past negation)
Word origin
没有 (méiyǒu) 'not have; have not' joins the negative 没 'not, lack' with 有 'to have', giving the standard negation of possession and of past action. 有 shows a hand (又) holding a piece of meat (月/肉).
- Origin
- compound
- Root
- 没 (not) + 有 (to have)
Stroke order
没
有
Examples
。
I do not have any money.
？，。
Have you been there? No, I have not been.
。
He did not come to work today.
。
He doesn't have any siblings.
。
We have no other choice.
没有 (méi yǒu) serves two essential negative functions in Mandarin. First, it negates possession: 我没有车 (I do not have a car), the negative counterpart of 有 (to have). Second, it negates past action, where 不 cannot be used: 我没有去 (I did not go), not 我不去 which means "I am not going" (future/habitual).
The 没/不 distinction is one of the most important grammar points for learners: 不 negates present/future/habitual actions and states, while 没 (short for 没有) negates completed or past actions. In speech 没有 is often shortened to just 没 (méi), particularly in rapid conversation.
Used in
Stories
(19)你去吗？
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朋友找我
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打电话
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大伟的工作
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生日的惊喜
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下雨的下午
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新邻居
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最后的车
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今年去哪里
4 min read · Core 1000
卖东西的地方
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错过的火车
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等了两个小时
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等了三年
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李明的旅行
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那件事
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想起那个约定
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小华的比赛
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小云的梦想
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有钱没时间
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Grammar articles
(12)Mandarin Advanced Grammar (C1-C2 / HSK 6+): Chengyu, Classical Remnants, and Register
Mandarin Grammar Cheatsheet: The Essentials, One Page
Mandarin Comparatives: 比, 比较, 最, 跟…一样 and How to Say 'More', 'Most', 'Same As'
Mandarin Verb Conjugation: Why It Doesn't Exist and What Replaces It
Mandarin Conjunctions: 虽然…但是, 因为…所以, 如果…就 and the Paired Structures That Join Clauses
The Experiential 过 (guò) in Mandarin: Saying You Have Ever Done Something
Mandarin Location and Existence: 在 for Where, 有 for There Is, and the 上/下/里/外 Position Words
Mandarin Negation: 不 (bù) vs 没 (méi), and Why 不有 Does Not Exist
Possession with 有 (yǒu): To Have, and Why It Is Never 不有
Mandarin Question Formation: 吗, V-Not-V, 还是, and the In-Situ Wh-Word System
Mandarin Resultative Complements: Fusing a Result onto the Verb (看见, 吃完, 找到)
Yes-No Questions in Mandarin: 吗 (ma), Echo Answers, and the Bounce-Back 呢 (ne)
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