(shè bèi) - equipment, kit in Mandarin
shèbèiTraditional: 設備
Translation
equipment, kit
Word origin
A compound of 设 (shè, to set up, to install) and 备 (bèi, to provide, to have ready), so literally what has been installed and made ready.
- Origin
- compound
- Root
- 设 (shè, to set up) + 备 (bèi, to provide)
Stroke order
设
备
Examples
。
The equipment at this hospital is very new.
批。
The factory bought a batch of new equipment.
，。
The equipment has broken, so all we can do is wait.
。
The school does not have quite enough sports equipment.
。
Please do not touch this equipment.
设备 (shè bèi) is equipment in the hardware sense: the machines, instruments and kit that let a hospital, factory, studio or gym do its job. It is the word on every purchase order and every maintenance sign.
Like English "equipment" it behaves as a mass noun most of the time, so it takes no plural marker. When you do count it, the measure word depends on the shape of the thing: 一台设备 for a single machine, 一套设备 for a rig or set, 一批设备 for a consignment.
The trap is the near neighbour 设施 (shè shī), facilities. 设施 covers the fixed provision of a place, its lifts, car parks, toilets and sports grounds; 设备 is the movable technical gear. A hotel advertises its 设施, a laboratory boasts about its 设备.
Where this fits
Add to review queue
Track this word in your spaced-repetition queue and be tested on it at the right interval.
Go to my review queueMandarin · Free printables
设备: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the Mandarin word "设备" (equipment, kit): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
Free for members
The printable worksheets, infographics and PDFs are free with an account. Start a free week and download as many as you like.
Start your free weekThis word is part of lesson 51.