备 bèi — to prepare; get ready; to provide or equip
出门前要准备好东西。Chū mén qián yào zhǔn bèi hǎo dōng xi.Before going out, prepare your things.
Common words: 准备 (zhǔn bèi)、设备 (shè bèi)、具备 (jù bèi)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "to prepare"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "to prepare", including 备 (bèi), 预 (yù). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms, common words…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "to prepare" covers 2 different Chinese characters — 备 (bèi), 预 (yù) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 2 characters do not share a sound — their readings span bèi, yù — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 备 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 备 bèito prepare; get ready; to provide or equipUseful words: 准备, 设备
- 预 yùto advance; in advance; beforehand; to prepareUseful words: 预计, 预防
Common words for these 2 "to prepare" characters
Anchor each of these 2 characters in a word you can picture — start with 备 (bèi) — so "to prepare" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
准备zhǔn bèipreparation; to prepare; to intend; to be about to设备shè bèiequipment; facilities; installations具备jù bèito possess; to have; equipped with; able to fulfill (conditions or requirements)预计yù jìto forecast; to predict; to estimate预防yù fángto prevent; to take precautions against; to protect; to guard against预报yù bàoforecast
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 2 ways to say "to prepare".
预 yù — to advance; in advance; beforehand; to prepare
天气预报说明天有雨。Tiān qì yù bào shuō míng tiān yǒu yǔ.The weather forecast says it will rain tomorrow.
Common words: 预计 (yù jì)、预防 (yù fáng)、预报 (yù bào)
All 2 characters
Open 备、预 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.