JLPT N4 Vocabulary – Difference between “用意” and “準備”

Table of Contents

1. Difference between “用意ようい” and “準備じゅんび“
2. 用意ようい
3. 準備じゅんび
4. Let’s Compare
5. Summary
6. Quiz
7. SImilar Articles
8. Comment

Q: Can you explain the difference between “用意ようい” and “準備じゅんび“?

A: Both of these refer to the preliminary stage before starting something, but there are slight differences in their meanings and usage.

用意ようい (JLPT N4)

[Meaning]
Preparing the necessary items and tools in advance before doing something

[Point]
It is used together with words referring to specific items.

[Examples]
学生がくせいたちは楽器がっきを用意よういして音楽おんがく室しつに行いきました。
The students prepared their instruments and went to the music room.

お客きゃく様さまがいらっしゃったのでお茶ちゃを用意よういしてください。
The guests have arrived, so please prepare some tea.

母ははは台所だいどころで食事しょくじの用意よういをしています。
My mother is preparing a meal in the kitchen.

お客きゃく様さまのために部屋へやを用意よういしました。
We have prepared a room for the guests.

“用意ようい” is often used together with words like “完了かんりょう” (complete) and “周到しゅうとう” (thorough”).
“用意ようい周到しゅうとう” means that the necessary preparations have been made perfectly in advance.

[Examples]
これで明日あしたの遠足えんそくの用意よういは完了かんりょうです。
With this, the preparations for tomorrow’s excursion are complete.

山田やまださんは頼たよれる後輩こうはいで、出張しゅっちょうに必要ひつようなものはそろえてくれるし用意ようい周到しゅうとうです。
Yamada is a reliable junior; he gathers everything needed for business trips and is very thorough in his preparations.

準備じゅんび (JLPT N4)

[Meaning]
Arrange the necessary steps and plans in advance to ensure that something goes smoothly before starting it

[Point]
It is often used for formal matters that involve planning and procedures, or for projects that are complex and require effort and time. Compared to “用意ようい“, “準備じゅんび” has a stronger connotation of “preparation in advance.

[Examples]
明日あしたの会議かいぎの準備じゅんびをしなければいけません。
We need to prepare for tomorrow’s meeting.

プロジェクトの準備じゅんびは順調じゅんちょうですか。
Is the preparation for the project going well?

JLPTの試験しけんまであと少すこしだから、しっかり計画けいかくしてテスト勉強べんきょうの準備じゅんびをしよう。
With only a little time left until the JLPT exam, let’s make a solid plan and prepare for the test.

ちゃんと準備じゅんびができるまで始はじめるつもりはありません。
I don’t intend to start until everything is properly prepared.

“準備じゅんび” is often used together with words like “完了かんりょう” (complete) and “万端ばんたん” (perfect).
Both mean that the preparations are finished or ready.

[Examples]
準備じゅんびが完了かんりょうしたら教おしえてください。
Please let me know when the preparations are complete.

これで旅行りょこうの準備じゅんびは万端ばんたんです。
With this, the preparations for the trip are all set.

Let’s Compare

Next, let’s consider the differences by looking at an example using both words.

[Example]　
A「明日あしたの会議かいぎの準備じゅんびはどう？」
B「大丈夫だいじょうぶです。社員しゃいんやA社しゃの皆みな様さまにもメールを送おくりました。あとは会議かいぎ室しつにプロジェクターとホワイトボードを用意よういすれば終おわりです。」
A: “How are the preparations for tomorrow’s meeting going?”
B: “No problem. I’ve sent emails to the employees and the members of Company A. All that’s left is to set up the projector and whiteboard in the meeting room.”
⇒ “準備じゅんび” is used because planning is needed to hold the meeting, and “用意ようい” is used for the necessary items like the projector and drinks.

Summary

[用意ようい]

• It means to prepare the necessary items and tools in advance before doing something.
• Words like “complete” and “thorough” are often used together with it.

[準備じゅんび]

• It means to arrange the necessary steps and plans in advance so that things go smoothly before starting something.
• It is often used for situations that involve planning and procedures.
• Words like “complete” and “thorough” are often used together with it.

Quiz

Read the following sentence and choose the expression that fits the context from the options provided in the parentheses.

Click on the question to check the answer.

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