有着

yoǔ zhe · HSK 5

to have

有 (have) + 着 (verb particle showing ongoing state)

有 means to have or possess. 着 is a grammatical particle marking a continuous or sustained state. Together 有着 means to have or possess, often in a more formal or literary tone than plain 有.

有 — hand 𠂇 + moon/meat 月
Originally depicted a hand holding a piece of meat (月 here is the 'meat' radical, not moon), expressing the idea of possessing something. Over time the meaning broadened from 'to hold/possess' to the general sense of 'to have' or 'there is/exists'.

着 — sheep 羊 (top) + eye 目 (bottom)
着 originated as a variant of 著, which depicted plants emerging visibly above ground (grass radical 艹 over 者). Over time 着 split off to carry meanings like 'attach,' 'wear,' or a verb suffix marking ongoing action (zhe), while 著 kept senses like 'manifest' or 'author.'

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