有的是 (yǒu de shì) — to have plenty of; there is no lack of

Definition

An emphatic idiom meaning 'there's plenty of' — stronger and more vivid than just 有, and used to reassure ('don't worry, there's no shortage').

idiom

to have plenty ofthere is no lack of

Examples

有的是，。
Wǒ yǒu de shì shí jiān, bú yòng zháo jí.
I have plenty of time; no need to rush.
有的是，。
Tā yǒu de shì qián, dàn shēng huó hěn jiǎn pǔ.
He has plenty of money, but he lives a very simple life.
有的是，。
Zhè ge chéng shì yǒu de shì jī huì, hěn duō rén lái zhè lǐ fā zhǎn.
This city has plenty of opportunities; many people come here to develop their careers.

Origin

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

肉肉ròumeat

Sound part声符shēngfú

又

又yòu有yǒu

Same sound today

The form 有 combines 又, used for its sound, with a shape from 肉, 'meat'; the hand-holding-meat story is a folk explanation, not shown in the oldest shape.

Open 有 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

白勺的

Meaning part形符xíngfú

白白báiwhite

Sound part声符shēngfú

勺

勺sháo的de

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

的 pairs 白, related to white or brightness, with 勺, which gives a clue to the sound. Its older form 旳 meant bright.

Open 的 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.