01 / READExamples
Highlighted words show the grammar pattern. Reveal the English translation when needed.
我的包里没有纸巾。
There are no tissues in my bag.
A place can come first when you are saying something is absent there.
我们下午没有空。
We are not free this afternoon.
有空 means to have free time; 没有空 negates that availability.
他没零钱。
He has no change.
The shorter 没 works naturally before the thing that is missing.
02 / UNDERSTANDHow it works
Sentence pattern
有 has its own standard negative pattern. Instead of adding 不, put 没 before 有 to make 没有. Use the pair whenever you are saying that someone does not have something. It works for a missing object, an unavailable resource, or a relationship that does not exist.
没有 is perfectly natural for the present. “I do not have a charger” does not refer to a past action, but it still uses 没有. This is one reason to learn negative patterns by their function rather than treating 不 as “present” and 没 as “past.” That shortcut will fail here.
In ordinary speech, 没 often stands alone before the thing you do not have. Both 没有零钱 and 没零钱 can mean “do not have change.” Begin with the full 没有 pattern, which is clear in both speech and writing. If you add a time expression, it helps explain when the item or resource is unavailable.
COMMON MISTAKESWhat to watch for
Avoid她不有充电器。
Use她没有充电器。
For “She does not have a charger,” use 没有. Changing the sentence to yesterday, today, or tomorrow does not turn 不有 into the standard negative of possession.
03 / PRACTISECheck your understanding
04 / VOCABULARYLesson vocabulary
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning here |
|---|---|---|
| 纸巾 | zhǐjīn | tissue |
| 零钱 | língqián | small change |
| 会员卡 | huìyuánkǎ | membership card |
Longer phrases are practised through their component words.
Choose a Chinese word for dictionary definitions, examples and stroke order. The meanings above are specific to this lesson.
What is in the download?
The TSV contains Chinese words, pinyin and meanings. Import instructions are below.
Written for this website. Levels indicate difficulty, not official HSK placement. The app covers this topic with different wording and exercises.
