有

音読おんよみ: ユウ・ウ

訓読くんよみ:

画数かくすう: 6 strokes

部首ぶしゅ: 月(にくづき)

Meaning

Exist, have, possess, be. Originally depicts a hand holding meat — the idea of “to have/hold,” which became “to possess” or “to exist.”


  • 有名ゆうめい — famous
  • 有無うむ — presence or absence; yes or no
  • 所有しょゆう — ownership
  • 保有ほゆう — holding; possession
  • 有力ゆうりょく — influential; powerful
  • 有益ゆうえき — beneficial
  • 有料ゆうりょう — paid; fee-charging
  • 有機ゆうき — organic
  • ゆうする — to possess; to have on-based

The ancient form shows a hand holding a piece of meat (月 here functioning as にくづきflesh), expressing “to have in one’s hand.” In modern Japanese, the kun-yomi ある covers “to exist / to have,” while compounds use the on-yomi ユウ/ウ. Note: 有する is an on-yomi-based verb (ユウ + する), not a native kun-yomi.

ここには 十分じゅうぶん証拠しょうこります。
There is sufficient evidence here.

その会社かいしゃつよ影響力えいきょうりょくゆうしている。
The company possesses strong influence.

この地域ちいきには 歴史的れきしてき 価値かち建物たてものおおい。
There are many buildings of historical value in this area.

Kun-yomi ある expresses “to exist / to have.” On-yomi ユウ/ウ appears in compounds like 有名, 有無, 所有. The verb 有する uses the on-yomi and is formal/written.

◀︎ Full List ▶︎