准备
to prepare; to get ready; preparation
HSK level
- Pinyin
- zhǔnbèi
- Part of speech
- verb
- Level
- HSK 2
- Strokes
- 18
- Register
- neutral
- In episodes
- 1
Stroke order for 准备
准备 is written with 18 strokes (准: 10, 备: 8). The animation replays automatically.
What does 准备 mean?
准备 (zhǔnbèi) means 'to prepare' or 'to get ready' — and, importantly, it doubles as an auxiliary verb meaning 'to plan to' or 'to be about to.'
Three patterns to know. First, as a regular verb: 准备 + object — 准备晚饭 ('prepare dinner'), 准备考试 ('prepare for an exam'). Second, as an auxiliary: 准备 + verb — 我准备去北京 ('I plan to go to Beijing'), 他准备睡觉了 ('he's about to sleep'). Third, as a noun: 做准备 ('to make preparations').
The reflexive 'get yourself ready' is usually 准备好 ('ready'): 你准备好了吗？ ('are you ready?'). Unlike English 'prepare,' which often needs 'for' (prepare for a test), Chinese 准备 takes the object directly — no preposition needed.
Note: Used freely in speech and writing. Functions as both a verb ('prepare something') and an auxiliary verb ('plan to / be about to').
Character by character
Memory hook: 准 ('accurate') + 备 ('equipped') = accurately equipped, fully prepared.
Hear 准备 in real episodes
准备 appears in 1 Fluentide podcast episode at natural native speed — each with the full Chinese script, pinyin, and line-by-line English translation.
Browse the full episode libraryExample sentences
我在准备晚饭。
Wǒ zài zhǔnbèi wǎnfàn.
I'm preparing dinner.
spoken
你准备好了吗？
Nǐ zhǔnbèi hǎo le ma?
Are you ready?
spoken
他正在准备明天的考试。
Tā zhèngzài zhǔnbèi míngtiān de kǎoshì.
He's preparing for tomorrow's exam.
neutral
我准备下个月去北京。
Wǒ zhǔnbèi xià ge yuè qù Běijīng.
I plan to go to Beijing next month.
neutral
妈妈准备了很多菜。
Māma zhǔnbèi le hěn duō cài.
Mom prepared a lot of dishes.
neutral
Common phrases with 准备
Synonyms
打算 means 'to plan / intend to,' focusing on the mental decision. 准备 (as auxiliary) means 'to plan and be actively getting ready.' 我打算去 = 'I'm planning to go (decision)'; 我准备去 = 'I'm getting ready to go (with action under way).'
预备 also means 'to prepare in advance' but is more formal/written. Heard in commands like 预备...开始！ ('Ready... begin!') in starts of races. 准备 is the everyday word.
Don't confuse 准备 with
FAQ
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