战备 (zhàn bèi) — war preparedness, military readiness | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A military term for the state of being prepared for war, covering troops, equipment, and logistics. Unlike 准备 (general preparedness), 战备 is restricted to a combat/wartime context.

noun

war preparednessmilitary readiness

Examples

战备。
Guó jiā jiā qiáng le zhàn bèi gōng zuò.
The country has strengthened its war preparedness efforts.
战备。
Jūn duì de zhàn bèi shuǐ píng hěn gāo.
The army's level of war preparedness is very high.
战备，。
Wǒ men yào zuò hǎo zhàn bèi, yǐ fáng wàn yī.
We must do a good job of war preparedness, just in case.

Origin

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.

备bèipreparation

战 points to war and 备 to preparation, together meaning military readiness.

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.

占戈战

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

占

占zhàn战zhàn

Same sound today

战 pairs 占, which gives its sound, with 戈, a weapon.

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.

Appears in

Military & Defense

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