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必备 (bì bèi) — essential, necessary

Definition

必备 (bìbèi) is a written/formal adjective meaning 'essential, indispensable' — stronger than 必须 in tone, used as a set modifier before nouns (必备物品, 必备条件). Common in instructions, manuals, and formal writing rather than daily speech.

adjective
essentialnecessary

Examples

  • 必备。
    Zhè běn zhǐ nán shì lǚ xíng zhě de bì bèi wù pǐn.
    This guidebook is an essential item for travelers.
  • 必备。
    Chū mén dài hù zhào shì bì bèi de bù zhòu.
    Taking your passport when going out is a necessary step.
  • 必备。
    Ān quán shè bèi zài gōng dì shàng shì bì bèi pèi zhì.
    Safety equipment is an essential configuration on construction sites.

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.

必bìmust
备bèihave

“必” says something must be so, and “备” means to have or be prepared, so the word means essential.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 必 comes from the handle on the right side of a weapon, with two extra strokes added to its sides.

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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.

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Appears in
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