'有' Sentences: Existence & Attachment
有着 and 写有 are two forms of 有 (to have) at HSK 5. 有着 is a more literary way to say have, used for lasting abstract qualities, while a verb + 有, as in 写有, says that something is written or attached.
V+有 (写有/贴有/挂有/印有/刻有…) = 'there is X [written/posted/printed/engraved]', showing displayed information attached to a surface:
门上写有'禁止入内'四个字。(On the door is written 'No Entry'.)
Position: 有着 replaces plain 有 before the object; V+有 attaches 有 directly after a display-type verb (写/贴/挂/印/刻), never after action verbs like 打/买.
Common mistake: using 有着 with a concrete countable noun (✗这座城市有着一本书) — 有着 needs an abstract, ongoing quality as its object.
Worked examples
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 这座城市有着悠久的历史。 | Zhè zuò chéng shì yǒu zhe yōu jiǔ de lì shǐ. | This city has a long history. | 有着 with an abstract, enduring quality (历史). |
| 他们俩有着深厚的友谊。 | Tā men liǎ yǒu zhe shēn hòu de yǒu yì. | The two of them have a deep friendship. | 有着 again with an abstract relationship noun (友谊). |
| 门上写有'禁止入内'四个字。 | Mén shàng xiě yǒu 'jìn zhǐ rù nèi' sì gè zì. | On the door is written the four characters '禁止入内' (No Entry). | 写有: a new V+有 pattern for displayed/written information. |
| 这本古书的封面上印有作者的名字，书里有着许多珍贵的资料。 | Zhè běn gǔ shū de fēng miàn shàng yìn yǒu zuò zhě de míng zi, shū lǐ yǒu zhe xǔ duō zhēn guì de zī liào. | The author's name is printed on this old book's cover, and inside it has a lot of precious material. | Combines 印有 (printed) and 有着 (abstract possession) in one sentence. |
Word by word
Each word in this pattern on its own: what it does here, the structure, three more examples, and the mistake to avoid.
有着 (yǒu zhe)
A fuller, more literary form of 有 used with abstract, lasting qualities.
Structure: subject + 有着 + abstract noun
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 这个民族有着自己独特的语言和文化。 | Zhè gè mín zú yǒu zhe zì jǐ dú tè de yǔ yán hé wén huà. | This ethnic group has its own distinct language and culture. |
| 他对科学有着浓厚的兴趣。 | Tā duì kē xué yǒu zhe nóng hòu de xìng qù. | He has a strong interest in science. |
| 这位老师有着二十年的教学经验。 | Zhè wèi lǎo shī yǒu zhe èr shí nián de jiào xué jīng yàn. | This teacher has twenty years of teaching experience. |
Not: 我有着三个哥哥。 有着 goes with abstract, lasting things. Countable people take plain 有: 我有三个哥哥。
写有 (xiě yǒu)
Says that words are written on a surface and are still there.
Structure: place + 写有 + words
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 信封上写有收信人的地址。 | Xìn fēng shàng xiě yǒu shōu xìn rén de dì zhǐ. | The recipient's address is written on the envelope. |
| 墙上写有“安静”两个大字。 | Qiáng shàng xiě yǒu "ān jìng" liǎng gè dà zì. | The two big characters for "quiet" are written on the wall. |
| 这张卡片的背面写有一行小字。 | Zhè zhāng kǎ piàn de bèi miàn xiě yǒu yì háng xiǎo zì. | A line of small writing appears on the back of this card. |
Not: 他手里打有一个电话。 Verb + 有 shows information fixed to a surface (写, 贴, 印, 刻), not an action like 打.
Compared side by side: 有 vs 有着.
What you need first
Every topic in GraphChinese names its own prerequisites, and these are the grammar points this one is built on. If a sentence here will not parse, one of them is why.
The same pattern at other levels
- The 有-Sentence — HSK 1
Questions about '有' Sentences
What does 有字句3 ('有' Sentences) mean in Chinese?
有着 and 写有 are two forms of 有 (to have) at HSK 5. 有着 is a more literary way to say have, used for lasting abstract qualities, while a verb + 有, as in 写有, says that something is written or attached. It is an HSK 5 grammar point.
How do you use 有字句3 ('有' Sentences) in a sentence?
这座城市有着悠久的历史。 — Zhè zuò chéng shì yǒu zhe yōu jiǔ de lì shǐ. — This city has a long history. 有着 with an abstract, enduring quality (历史).
What do you need to know before 有字句3 ('有' Sentences)?
Existential sentences (HSK 4). This pattern is built out of them, so a sentence here that will not parse usually means one of them has not landed yet.
What is the difference between 有 and 有着?
Both mean "have". 有着 is more formal and fits lasting, abstract qualities: 有着悠久的历史. For ordinary things, use 有: 我有一本书。
Which verbs can go before 有 like 写有?
Verbs that put something on a surface: 写, 贴, 挂, 印, 刻, 画. 墙上挂有一幅画。 You cannot use ordinary action verbs like 打 or 买.
'有' Sentences is one topic of 829. GraphChinese teaches them in prerequisite order, so this pattern reaches you on the day everything it rests on is proven. The whole course, HSK 0 through HSK 6, is $49 once for lifetime access.
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