Nihongo

Kanji Detail of 備

備

Level:N3 Low
Strokes:12
Stroke Order
Related Words
AI Explanation
Basic Meaning

The kanji 備 means to "prepare," "provide," "equip," or "arrange." It conveys the idea of getting ready, making something available, or having something in readiness for a specific purpose or situation. It suggests foresight and planning.

Readings

・On-yomi (音読み): ビ (bi) ・Kun-yomi (訓読み): そな(える) (sona(eru)) - to prepare, equip; そな(わる) (sona(waru)) - to be equipped with, to possess

Usage Examples

⚫︎ 準備(じゅんび) Translation: Preparation ⚫︎ 設備(せつび) Translation: Equipment, facilities ⚫︎ 備品(びひん) Translation: Supplies, equipment

Origin and Formation

The kanji 備 is a phono-semantic compound (形声文字). The semantic component is 人 (person or people) on the left side, representing the activity and the physical body of the preparation, and the phonetic component is 畐 (fuku), which provides the sound and originally meant "rich, full, abundant." Thus, the character originally indicated having a lot of something, as in having prepared a lot of resources. Over time, it developed the meaning of preparation, supply, or readiness. The shape of 冨 (fuku) evolved into 畐.

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