Chinese word

备用

Pronunciation

Pinyinbèi yòng

Meaning

  • adjectivespare

Example

车里有一个备用轮胎。chē lǐ yǒu yí gè bèi yòng lún tāi

There is a spare tire in the car.

Illustration for 备用 (spare)

More examples

我在包里放了一块备用电池，以防手机没电。wǒ zài bāo lǐ fàng le yí kuài bèi yòng diàn chí yǐ fáng shǒu jī méi diàn

I put a spare battery in my bag in case my phone runs out of power.

Core concept

A kept-ready substitute protects continuity when the regular one is missing, damaged, or unsuitable.

Common phrases

  • 备用轮胎bèi yòng lún tāi

    spare tire

  • 备用电池bèi yòng diàn chí

    spare battery

  • 备用钥匙bèi yòng yào shi

    spare key

  • 备用方案bèi yòng fāng àn

    backup plan

  • 备用电源bèi yòng diàn yuán

    backup power supply

Similar words

后备hòu bèi: Kept ready as support in case the main staff or equipment becomes unavailable.
候补hòu bǔ: Prepared to join officially when a regular member cannot take part.

Definition in Chinese

保留以便随时替换或补救主要用品的；也可表示把某物留作备用。bǎo liú yǐ biàn suí shí tì huàn huò bǔ jiù zhǔ yào yòng pǐn de yě kě biǎo shì bǎ mǒu wù liú zuò bèi yòng

Word origin

备 (bèi, "prepare") combines with 用 (yòng, "use") to describe something prepared for a later need.

Usage tips

  • In practical conversation, this word can mark resources, funds, and procedures held for a contingency, not only objects.

Other meanings

  • backupnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 备用金bèi yòng jīnreserve fundnoun
  • 备用钥匙bèi yòng yào shispare keynoun
  • 备用方案bèi yòng fāng ànbackup plannoun

Word lists with this word