拥有 (yōngyǒu) is a transitive verb meaning 'to possess' or 'to have' — especially in the sense of formal, legal, or lasting ownership of something tangible or intangible, such as property, rights, skills, or qualities. The character 拥 (yōng) originally means 'to embrace' or 'to surround', suggesting closeness and control; 有 (yǒu) means 'to have' or 'to exist'. Together, they convey a stronger, more deliberate sense of holding or maintaining possession than the simpler 有 alone.

This word is commonly used in written Chinese and formal speech — for example, when describing assets ('owns a house'), qualifications ('has a degree'), or inherent traits ('possesses great patience'). It’s less frequent in casual daily talk, where 有 is preferred. 拥有 often appears with nouns that imply value, rarity, or significance, and it can’t be used with measure words directly (e.g., you say 拥有一辆车, not 拥有一辆车 — note the particle 一).