常备 (cháng bèi) — to always have (something) ready or prepared; t…

Definition

常备 (cháng bèi) means to keep something on hand as a standing supply — supplies, medicine, or a state of readiness that is maintained at all times.

verb

to always have (something) ready or preparedto be constantly on hand or in stock

Easily confused

常备。
Jiā lǐ yīng gāi cháng bèi yì xiē jí jiù yòng pǐn.
You should always keep some first-aid supplies at home.
常备。
Jūn duì bì xū cháng bèi bú xiè.
The military must be constantly on guard without slackening.
常备。
Zhè ge yào fáng cháng bèi gè zhǒng cháng yòng yào.
This pharmacy always stocks all kinds of commonly used medicines.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

Always and prepare combine to mean keeping something ready at all times.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

巾巾jīncloth

Sound part声符shēngfú

尚

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

常 pairs 巾, a cloth, with 尚 as a sound part; the form originally referred to a lower garment.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 備; 备 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 備 shows a person carrying a quiver, matching the meaning 'ready; prepared'; the simplified 备 is a later abbreviation.