noun
reserve funds; emergency funds
Refers to money set aside for unforeseen expenses or emergencies, often used in budgeting, corporate finance, and government allocations.
会社は不測の事態に備えて予備費を確保している。
The company keeps reserve funds for unforeseen circumstances.
政府は災害対策のための予備費を計上した。
The government allocated emergency funds for disaster countermeasures.
積立金 refers to funds accumulated over time for a specific future purpose, such as a sinking fund, whereas 予備費 is for immediate unforeseen needs.
Compound of 予備 (yobi, 'reserve, spare') and 費 (hi, 'expense, cost'). The kanji 予備 means 'preliminary preparation', and 費 refers to 'expenditure', together forming the concept of funds set aside for contingencies.