shì 是 vs yǒu 有 – to be vs to have
Spoken Description
学习“是” vs “有”的差别：认识它们的意思和用法。知道“是”常常连接主语和名词或形容词，强调定义或状态；“有”表示拥有或存在，强调事实或存在。掌握用法、语序及例句。
Compare ‘shì’ (to be) and ‘yǒu’ (to have): learn their common meanings—‘shì’ links subjects with nouns/adj, indicating identity/status; ‘yǒu’ means to possess/exist, indicating possession or presence. Cover grammar, word order, and example sentences.
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Mandarin distinguishes between identity or classification with shì 是 and possession or existence with yǒu 有; each serves a different role in how you describe things.
shì 是
使用shì 是将主语与类别、身份、角色或定义特征连接起来；它的作用类似于英文中的“to be”，当你说某人是某种身份或指定某事物是什么时。
Use shì 是 to link a subject to a category, identity, role, or defining characteristic; it functions like "to be" in English when you say someone is something or when you specify what something is.
Examples
Word Order
The typical pattern is Subject + shì 是 + Noun or Noun Phrase; adjectives usually turn into descriptive phrases to avoid unnecessary use of shì.
yǒu 有
使用yǒu 有来表达拥有、存在或某物的可用性；它可以表示“有”当某人拥有某物，或者“那里有/有”当某物存在于某个地点。
Use yǒu 有 to express possession, presence, or availability of something; it can mean "to have" when someone owns something or "there is/are" when something exists in a location.
Examples
Sentence Types
You can use yǒu 有 in questions, negatives, and statements to check for or deny possession or existence; the pattern is usually Subject + yǒu 有 + Noun.
Key Differences
shì 是 links identities or definitions and is followed by a noun or noun phrase, while yǒu 有 signals possession or existence and is followed by whatever is owned or present; don’t use shì before adjectives that describe inherent qualities.
Summary
Use shì 是 for identity and classification and yǒu 有 for possession and existence; paying attention to which you need helps make your sentences clear and natural.
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