備そなえる

そ

な

え

る

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

備える · ichidan verb

Form	Positive	Negative
Dictionary	備そなえる	備そなえない
Polite	備そなえます	備そなえません
Past polite	備そなえました	備そなえませんでした
Past	備そなえた	備そなえなかった
Te-form	備そなえて	備そなえないで
Desire	備そなえたい	備そなえたくない
Potential	備そなえられるalso 備そなえれる	備そなえられないalso 備そなえれない
Passive	備そなえられる	備そなえられない
Causative	備そなえさせる	備そなえさせない
Causative passive	備そなえさせられる	備そなえさせられない
Volitional	備そなえよう
Polite volitional	備そなえましょう
Imperative	備そなえろ	備そなえるな
Conditional	備そなえれば	備そなえなければ
Tara conditional	備そなえたら	備そなえなかったら

Pairs with備わる

Meanings

ichidan verb, transitive verb

equip with; provide; install

Used when a place, facility, room, vehicle, etc. is furnished with equipment or provided with something useful. Often appears as を備える or を備えている.

当とうホテルは全ぜん室しつに金きん庫こを備そなえています。
Our hotel provides a safe in every room.
新あたらしい校こう舎しゃには最さい新しんの実じっ験けん設せつ備びを備そなえた教きょう室しつがある。
The new school building has classrooms equipped with the latest laboratory facilities.

ichidan verb, transitive verb

prepare for; make provision for

Commonly used in the pattern 〜に備える, meaning to get ready for an expected event, risk, exam, disaster, or future need.

台たい風ふうに備そなえて、水みずと食しょく料りょうを買かっておいた。
I bought water and food in preparation for the typhoon.
試し験けんに備そなえて、早はやめに勉べん強きょうを始はじめた。
I started studying early to prepare for the exam.

ichidan verb, transitive verb

possess; be endowed with; have the necessary qualities

Used for having a quality, ability, function, or necessary condition. The form 〜を備えている is especially common and often sounds a little formal or written.

彼かの女じょは冷れい静せいな判はん断だん力りょくを備そなえている。
She possesses calm judgment.
この車くるまは高たかい安あん全ぜん性せい能のうを備そなえている。
This car is equipped with strong safety features.

ichidan verb, transitive verb

be born with; have since birth

A more specific use for qualities or abilities someone has from birth; often appears with 生まれつき or 生まれながらに. This is somewhat formal compared with 持っている.

彼かの女じょは生うまれつき優すぐれた音おん感かんを備そなえている。
She was born with an excellent sense of pitch.

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Usage patterns

〈場ば所しょ〉に〈物もの〉を備そなえるto equip a place with something
この部屋へやには消しょう火か器きが備そなえられている。
This room is equipped with a fire extinguisher.
〈事こと〉に備そなえるto prepare for an event, risk, or need
地じ震しんに備そなえて水みずを用よう意いしておく。
I keep water on hand in preparation for an earthquake.
〈物もの〉を備そなえているto possess a certain quality, function, or condition
この車くるまは最さい新しんの安あん全ぜん機き能のうを備そなえている。
This car is equipped with the latest safety features.
生うまれつき〈物もの〉を備そなえるto have a quality or ability from birth
彼かれは生うまれつき音おん楽がくの才さい能のうを備そなえている。
He was born with a talent for music.

Expressions

に備そなえてin preparation for; in case of; in the lead-up to
万まん一いちに備そなえるprepare for the worst; provide against contingencies
資し格かくを備そなえるhave a qualification (for); be qualified (for)
備そなえあれば憂うれいなしprevention is better than cure; better safe than sorry
備そなえあれば憂うれえなしpreparation prevents worry; if you are prepared, you have nothing to fear

Kanji

備equip, provision, preparation
具tool, utensil, means

Transitive / intransitive

備そなわるN1sense 1
備える is transitive 'to equip/provide something', while 備わる is intransitive 'for something to be present/furnished'.

Related words

準じゅん備びN5sense 2
準備する is the general word for 'to prepare/get ready', while 備える specifically emphasizes readiness against a future risk or need, as in 〜に備える.
設もうけるN2sense 1
設ける means to set up or establish a facility, rule, or opportunity, while 備える means to equip or furnish something within an existing place or system.
兼かね備そなえる
備える means to equip or provide oneself with a single quality or thing, while 兼ね備える stresses possessing two or more qualities at once.
構かまえるN1
備える broadly means to prepare or provide for something in general, whereas 構える often means holding an object ready for immediate use or assuming a stance.

Don't confuse with· 5

供そなえるN1
供える (also read そなえる) means to offer something at an altar or shrine, while 備える means to equip, prepare, or possess something; the two are unrelated words that share the same pronunciation.
備そなえ付つけるN1
備える broadly means to prepare or provide for something (e.g. an emergency), while 備え付ける specifically means to permanently install equipment or fixtures in a place.
揃そろえるN3
備える means to prepare or equip oneself for something, whereas 揃える means to gather items or make them uniform; the words sound alike but mean different things.

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蓄たくわえるN2
備える means to prepare or equip for something (e.g. for an emergency), whereas 蓄える means to actually store up a resource; they overlap when stockpiling supplies but 備える focuses on readiness, not accumulation.
添そえるN2
備える (そなえる) means to prepare or equip for something, while 添える (そえる) means to add an accompanying extra, and learners often confuse the two due to their similar readings.

Word family

備そなえ
preparation; provision; guarding
備そなえ付つけ
equipment; fixtures; built-in items
兼かね備そなえる
have both; combine; possess both
備そなえ付つけるN1
install; equip; fit out; provide
赤あか備ぞなえ
red-armored troops
陣じん備ぞなえ
disposition of troops; battle formation

Written forms

備そなえるUsage97%
Standard common kanji spelling for preparing, equipping, providing, and possessing necessary qualities.
具そなえるUsage3%
rarely-used kanji form
Attested but rarely used kanji form; 備える is the normal spelling for learners.

Etymology

The historical derivation is not specified. The kanji 備 conventionally conveys preparation and equipment, matching the main meanings of そなえる.