JLPT N4 Vocabulary – The difference between “用意” and “準備”

Table of Contents

1. The 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: Please explain the difference between “用意ようい” and “準備じゅんび.”

A: Both “用意ようい” and “準備じゅんび” mean doing what is necessary before starting something.
However, there is a slight difference in nuance.

Simply put, “用意ようい” is often used when preparing or getting the necessary things ready.

On the other hand, “準備じゅんび” can be used not only for preparing things, but also for arranging plans, procedures, mental readiness, and so on.

用意ようい (JLPT N4)

[Meaning]
To prepare the necessary things or tools in advance before doing something

[Point]
・“用意ようい” is often used when getting specific things ready.
・It is often used with visible, concrete things such as meals, drinks, rooms, tools, documents, and money.

[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 prepared a room for the guests.

“用意ようい完了かんりょう” and “用意ようい周到しゅうとう”

Common expressions used with “用意ようい” include “用意ようい完了かんりょう” and “用意ようい周到しゅうとう.”

・用意ようい完了かんりょう: This means that all the necessary things have been prepared.
・用意ようい周到しゅうとう: This means that the necessary things and arrangements have been thoroughly prepared, down to the details.

[Examples]
これで明日あしたの遠足えんそくの用意ようい完了かんりょう！
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]
Before starting something, to get the necessary things, procedures, plans, conditions, and so on ready so that it will go well

[Point]
・“準備じゅんび” is used with a broader meaning than “用意ようい.”
・It can be used not only for getting things ready, but also for making plans, contacting people, practicing, completing procedures, or preparing yourself mentally.
・It is often used for things that require a certain amount of planning or organization, such as meetings, exams, trips, events, and projects.

[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。
There is only a little time left until the JLPT exam, so 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.

発表はっぴょうの前まえに、何なん度ども練習れんしゅうして準備じゅんびしました。
I practiced many times and prepared before the presentation.

“準備じゅんび完了かんりょう” and “準備じゅんび万端ばんたん”

Common expressions used with “準備じゅんび” include “準備じゅんび完了かんりょう” and “準備じゅんび万端ばんたん.”
Both mean that the preparations are finished or that everything is ready.

・準備じゅんび完了かんりょう: This means that the necessary preparations have been completed.

・準備じゅんび万端ばんたん: This means that all the necessary preparations are fully in place.

[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 look at the difference through example sentences using “用意ようい” and “準備じゅんび.”

[例れい]　
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 prepare the projector and whiteboard in the meeting room.”

“準備じゅんび” is used because holding a meeting requires things such as contacting people, confirming details, and organizing the process.
On the other hand, “用意ようい” is used because the projector and whiteboard are specific tools that need to be prepared.

Let’s look at some other examples.

[Examples]
◯ 旅行りょこうの準備じゅんびをしています。

I am preparing for a trip.
⇒ This gives the image of getting the necessary things ready, making plans, and checking reservations for the trip.

◯ 旅行りょこうに持もっていく服ふくを用意よういしています。

I am preparing the clothes I will take on the trip.
⇒ This gives the image of getting the specific item “clothes” ready.

◯ 試験しけんの準備じゅんびをしています。

I am preparing for the exam.
⇒ This gives the image of studying, making a plan, and checking the things needed for the exam.

△ 試験しけんの用意よういをしています。

I am preparing things for the exam.
⇒ This sentence is not incorrect, but it may sound a little unnatural.

If it means “I am getting the necessary things for the exam ready, such as my exam admission ticket, pencils, and eraser,” then it sounds natural.

◯ 試験しけんに必要ひつようなものを用意よういしています。

I am preparing the things I need for the exam.

Summary

[用意ようい]

• To prepare the necessary things or tools in advance before doing something.
• Often used when preparing specific, concrete things.
• Commonly used with things such as meals, drinks, rooms, tools, documents, and money.
• Sometimes used in the forms “用意ようい完了かんりょう” and “用意ようい周到しゅうとう.”

[準備じゅんび]

• To get the necessary things ready before starting something so that it will go well.
• Used not only for things, but also for plans, procedures, communication, practice, paperwork, mental readiness, and so on.
• Commonly used for meetings, exams, trips, events, projects, and so on.
• Often used in the forms “準備じゅんび完了かんりょう” and “準備じゅんび万端ばんたん.”

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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