储备

• Pinyin: chǔ bèi
• Hanzi breakdown: 储 = 亻 (person) + 诸 (various, phonetic) = to store; 备 = 夂 + 田 + 用 = to prepare

Meaning

To stockpile; to reserve; reserves; stockpile. Both the act of saving resources and the resources themselves.

Common in economic, military, and resource management contexts. 外汇储备 (foreign exchange reserves), 战略储备 (strategic reserves), 人才储备 (talent pool) are frequent collocations. Implies planned accumulation for future use.

Examples

1. 国家增加了石油战略储备以应对能源危机。 The country increased its strategic petroleum reserves to cope with energy crises.
2. 公司正在储备各类专业人才。 The company is building up a pool of various professional talents.
3. 他储备了足够的物资应对可能发生的自然灾害。 He stockpiled enough supplies to deal with possible natural disasters.

Usage Guide

Context: economics, military, resources, planning

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 中国拥有世界上最大的外汇储备。(China has the world's largest foreign exchange reserves.)
• 我们需要储备足够的原材料。(We need to stockpile enough raw materials.)

Don't Say

• 我储备了一些零食 (Too formal for casual snack shopping — use 买了 or 囤了)

Origin & History

Compound of 储 (to store, to save) and 备 (to prepare, to provide). Together they mean to store in preparation.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal