This short guide explains when to use shì 是 and yǒu 有 in Mandarin, with clear examples for each so you can tell them apart in typical sentences.
shì 是 – to be, to identify, to classify
Use shì 是 to link a subject to a label, identity, role, or category, and to emphasize that one thing is another. It works naturally with nouns, pronouns, and sometimes short phrases.
Examples
| Hanzi Character(s) | Pinyin Word(s) | English Translation(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🧑🏫 他是老师。 | Tā shì lǎoshī. | He is a teacher. | |
| 🏫 学校是第一名。 | Xuéxiào shì dì yī míng. | The school is first place. | |
| 📚 这书是中文写的。 | Zhè shū shì zhōngwén xiě de. | This book is written in Chinese. | |
| 👩🎓 她是我的同学。 | Tā shì wǒ de tóngxué. | She is my classmate. | |
| 🗺️ 北京是中国的首都。 | Běijīng shì Zhōngguó de shǒudū. | Beijing is the capital of China. |
Key Notes
Remember that shì 是 is usually followed by a noun or pronoun and that you don’t use it before adjectives for temporary qualities. For emphasis or contrast, you can insert other elements between the subject and shì 是.
yǒu 有 – to have, to exist, to possess
Use yǒu 有 to indicate possession, presence, or existence of something, whether tangible or intangible. It works with nouns and measure words and is used in both concrete and abstract contexts.
Examples
| Hanzi Character(s) | Pinyin Word(s) | English Translation(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🏫 学校有很多学生。 | Xuéxiào yǒu hěn duō xuéshēng. | The school has many students. | |
| 🍎 桌子上有两个苹果。 | Zhuōzi shàng yǒu liǎng gè píngguǒ. | There are two apples on the table. | |
| 👜 我的包里有一本书。 | Wǒ de bāo lǐ yǒu yī běn shū. | There is a book in my bag. | |
| 🐶 公园里有很多狗。 | Gōngyuán lǐ yǒu hěn duō gǒu. | There are many dogs in the park. | |
| 🕰️ 教室里有一块钟。 | Jiàoshì lǐ yǒu yī kuài zhōng. | There is a clock in the classroom. |
Key Notes
After yǒu 有 you normally place a noun or a noun phrase, and you can use measure words when referring to countable items. Use yǒu 有 in questions and sentences about whether something is present or available.
Summary
Use shì 是 to identify or classify and to link subjects to labels, and use yǒu 有 to show possession or existence of things. Keep in mind that shì 是 pairs naturally with nouns and pronouns while yǒu 有 pairs with nouns and can be followed by measure words.
Context:Chinese > Words > Comparisons > Sh Vs Yu To Be Vs To Have
Last updated: Fri Oct 24, 2025