備 meaning and stroke order
To prepare; to get ready, to equip; ready; perfect
How to write 備, stroke by stroke
12 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
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- 5
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- 12
Meaning of 備
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- (bound form) to prepare; to equip
- (literary) fully; completely
How 備 is built
Components of the character.
Radical: 亻 (man), shared by 277 characters on this site.
How to remember 備
備 has the person radical 亻 on the left, so picture a person standing beside a neatly stocked supply rack on the right. A person with all their gear lined up is ready and prepared.
備 (bèi) is a bound form, so it almost always appears inside words like 准备 (zhǔnbèi, to prepare), 设备 (shèbèi, equipment) and 备用 (bèiyòng, spare). Example: 我准备好了。(Wǒ zhǔnbèi hǎo le.) I am ready.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 备 (bèi) with 被 (bèi, the passive marker) because they sound identical. Write 准备 for prepare, never 准被.
Common words with 備
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 準備 | zhǔnbèi | preparation; to prepare | HSK 1 |
| 設備 | shèbèi | equipment; facilities; installations | HSK 3 |
| 具備 | jùbèi | to possess; to have | HSK 4 |
| 預備 | yùbèi | to prepare; to make ready | HSK 5 |
| 配備 | pèibèi | to allocate; to provide | HSK 5 |
| 裝備 | zhuāngbèi | equipment; to equip | HSK 6 |
| 備用 | bèiyòng | reserve; spare | HSK 7-9 |
| 責備 | zébèi | to blame; to criticize | HSK 7-9 |
| 後備箱 | hòubèixiāng | trunk; boot (of a car) | HSK 7-9 |
| 後備 | hòubèi | reserve; backup | HSK 7-9 |
| 戒備 | jièbèi | to take precautions; to guard against (emergency) | HSK 7-9 |
| 儲備 | chǔbèi | to store up; reserves | HSK 7-9 |
| 備受 | bèishòu | to receive a great deal of (respect, criticism, attention etc) | HSK 7-9 |
| 籌備 | chóubèi | preparations; to get ready for sth | HSK 7-9 |
Characters that contain 備
Learning 備 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 備
How many strokes are in 備?
備 is written with 12 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 備 mean?
備 (bèi) means to prepare; to get ready, to equip; ready; perfect. A common word with it is 准备 (zhǔnbèi), meaning "preparation; to prepare".
How do you pronounce 備?
備 is pronounced bèi, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 備?
The radical of 備 is 亻, which carries the idea of "man". Dictionaries list 備 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 備?
備 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 备, used in mainland China and Singapore.
What is the difference between 准备 and 预备?
Both mean to prepare. 准备 (zhǔnbèi) is the everyday word used in almost every situation, while 预备 (yùbèi) sounds a bit more formal or old-fashioned and stresses getting ready in advance.
Why does 责备 mean to blame if 备 means prepare?
In 责备 (zébèi), 备 carries its literary sense of fully or completely, so the word suggests criticizing someone thoroughly. It has nothing to do with getting ready, so learn it as a separate vocabulary item.