jau5有
Jyutpingjau5
Yaleyáuh
Definition
To have, possess, or consist of; also used to indicate relationships, affiliation, or existence.
- to have; to possess; to own
- to consist of; to be made up of; to have a certain number of
- to exist; there is; there are
- to indicate a social, familial, or interpersonal relationship
colloquialdaily actionspeople
How it's used
Beyond simple possession, this word is essential for indicating existence in a specific location or group. It functions similarly to the English there is or there are, but it is also used to describe the composition or contents of a place. It is frequently paired with 冇 to form a question about availability or existence.
Examples
This restaurant has a lot of delicious food.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use 喺 when they mean to express existence, but 喺 is strictly for location. Remember that 有 is for existence or possession, while 喺 describes where something is located.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
