What does 备 (bèi) mean in Chinese?

The Chinese character 备 (bèi) means "To prepare / Ready / Spare". It is an HSK Level 1 character, with 8 strokes and the radical 夂.

What's the difference between 备 and 夆?

备 (bèi) and 夆 look similar but differ in meaning and usage. Check the radical and stroke count to tell them apart.

What mistakes do learners make writing 备?

Common mistake: incorrect stroke order or miswriting the radical 夂. Pay attention to the proportion between components — keep the radical compact.

备 (bèi) - Meaning, Stroke Order, Words & Examples

Q: How do you write 备 stroke by stroke?

备 has 8 strokes. The radical is 夂. Follow the standard stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. Practice with stroke animation to build muscle memory.

Q: What common words use 备?

Common words containing 备 include: 准备 (zhǔn bèi) — to prepare; preparation; 备用 (bèi yòng) — Spare / Backup / For future use; 设备 (shè bèi) — Equipment / Device.

How to Write 备

The character 备 (bèi) is written with 8 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 夂 is one of its key components.

Practice the correct stroke order with the Hanzi Writer app to see animated stroke-by-stroke guidance with real-time feedback.

Meaning & Pronunciation

备 is pronounced bèi in Mandarin Chinese. It means To prepare / Ready / Spare.

As an HSK Level 1 character, 备 is among the first characters beginners learn.

Common Words with 备

准备 zhǔn bèi

to prepare; preparation

备用 bèi yòng

Spare / Backup / For future use

设备 shè bèi

Equipment / Device

Example Sentences

我准备好了。

wǒ zhǔn bèi hǎo le

I'm ready.

这是备用钥匙。

zhè shì bèi yòng yào shi

This is a spare key.

这里的设备很先进。

zhè lǐ de shè bèi hěn xiān jìn

The equipment here is very advanced.

Similar Characters

夆 féng

夋 qūn

夌 líng

Practice Writing 备 (bèi)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 备 with real-time feedback.

App Store ▶ Google Play

How to Write 备 (bèi)