Simplified Chinese - Lesson 14 of 156: Possession

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

这是你的吗

Zhè shì nǐ de ma?

Is it yours?

Meaning: Is it yours?

When to use: Ask if an item belongs to the person you're speaking to (neutral). For a polite form, say 这是您的吗？

Tip: Learners sometimes say 这是你的？ (missing 吗) — that's understandable, but 这是你的吗？ is the natural yes/no question.

我在咖啡店找到一个杯子，问：这是你的吗？

Wǒ zài kāfēi diàn zhǎodào yī gè bēizi, wèn: Zhè shì nǐ de ma?

I found a cup at the café and asked, 'Is it yours?'

钥匙在桌上，朋友问：这是你的吗？

Yàoshi zài zhuō shàng, péngyǒu wèn: Zhè shì nǐ de ma?

The keys are on the table; a friend asks, 'Is it yours?'

这不是我的

Zhè bú shì wǒ de.

This isn't mine.

Meaning: This isn't mine.

When to use: Use this to deny ownership of a single item. Simple and common in everyday situations.

老师拿起那顶帽子说：这不是我的。

Lǎoshī ná qǐ nà dǐng màozi shuō: Zhè bú shì wǒ de.

The teacher picks up that hat and says, 'This isn't mine.'

安娜看着桌上的杯子说：这不是我的。

Ānnà kànzhe zhuō shàng de bēizi shuō: Zhè bú shì wǒ de.

Anna looks at the cup on the table and says, 'This isn't mine.'

这些是我的

Zhèxiē shì wǒ de.

These are mine.

Meaning: These are mine.

When to use: Use this for several items that belong to you.

购物袋里的苹果，安娜说：这些是我的。

Gòuwù dài lǐ de píngguǒ, Ānnà shuō: Zhèxiē shì wǒ de.

About the apples in the shopping bag, Anna says, 'These are mine.'

同学们指着桌上的笔说：这些是我的。

Tóngxuémen zhǐzhe zhuō shàng de bǐ shuō: Zhèxiē shì wǒ de.

Students point to the pens on the table and say, 'These are mine.'

这些是你的吗

Zhèxiē shì nǐ de ma?

Are these yours?

Meaning: Are these yours?

When to use: Ask if several items belong to the listener. Polite form: 这些是您的吗？

地上有几本书，他问：这些是你的吗？

Dì shàng yǒu jǐ běn shū, tā wèn: Zhèxiē shì nǐ de ma?

There are some books on the floor; he asks, 'Are these yours?'

朋友指着购物袋说：这些是你的吗？

Péngyǒu zhǐzhe gòuwù dài shuō: Zhèxiē shì nǐ de ma?

A friend points at the shopping bag and says, 'Are these yours?'

你有什么

Nǐ yǒu shénme?

What do you have?

Meaning: What do you have?

When to use: Ask someone what they have (items, options, or abilities in a simple context).

出门前，妈妈问孩子：你有什么？

Chūmén qián, māmā wèn háizi: Nǐ yǒu shénme?

Before leaving, Mom asks the child, 'What do you have?'

去野餐前，老师问：你有什么要带的吗？简化为：你有什么？

Qù yěcān qián, lǎoshī wèn: Nǐ yǒu shénme yào dài de ma? Jiǎnhuà wéi: Nǐ yǒu shénme?

Before the picnic the teacher asks what to bring; simplified: 'What do you have?'

谁有___

Shéi yǒu ___?

Who has ___?

Meaning: Who has ___?

When to use: Use this to ask which person has a particular item. Leave the blank for the item name.

上课时老师说：谁有铅笔？

Shàngkè shí lǎoshī shuō: Shéi yǒu qiānbǐ?

During class the teacher says, 'Who has a pencil?'

下课后他问：谁有我的书？

Xiàkè hòu tā wèn: Shéi yǒu wǒ de shū?

After class he asks, 'Who has my book?'

我们有___

Wǒmen yǒu ___.

We have ___.

Meaning: We have ___.

When to use: Say that your group or household has something (possession or availability).

去露营前，大家说：我们有帐篷。

Qù lùyíng qián, dàjiā shuō: Wǒmen yǒu zhàngpeng.

Before camping, everyone says, 'We have tents.'

餐厅里经理说：我们有素食选择。

Cāntīng lǐ jīnglǐ shuō: Wǒmen yǒu sùshí xuǎnzé.

In the restaurant the manager says, 'We have vegetarian options.'

我只有___

Wǒ zhǐ yǒu ___.

I only have ___.

Meaning: I only have ___.

When to use: Use this when your amount or choices are limited — to say you have only one or a small number.

Tip: Beginners sometimes confuse 只有 and 只是. Use 只有 (zhǐ yǒu) for quantity limits: 我只有一个。

去买东西时，安娜说：我只有一块钱。

Qù mǎi dōngxi shí, Ānnà shuō: Wǒ zhǐ yǒu yī kuài qián.

While shopping Anna says, 'I only have one yuan.'

在教室里他说：我只有两个铅笔。

Zài jiàoshì lǐ tā shuō: Wǒ zhǐ yǒu liǎng gè qiānbǐ.

In the classroom he says, 'I only have two pencils.'

Simplified Chinese - Possession

1. Reading + Listening Practice

2. Conversational Listening Practice

3. Guided Practice

How do you ask 'Is it yours?' (neutral)?

Which sentence means 'These are mine.'?

How do you ask 'Who has ___?' in Chinese?

Which choice expresses 'I only have ___.'?

The teacher asks: 'Is this yours?'

David says, 'We have drinks.'

Anna says, 'I only have one ticket.'

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice