完备

• Pinyin: wán bèi
• Hanzi breakdown: 完 = 宀 (roof, shelter) + 元 (primary, original) — complete under one roof; 备 = 苟 (phonetic) + 用 (use) — to prepare and provide everything needed for use

Meaning

Complete; comprehensive; fully equipped; leaving nothing out. Describes a system, set, or preparation that is thorough and leaves no gaps.

More formal and technical than 完整 (which emphasises wholeness/integrity) or 齐全 (which emphasises having all the necessary items). 完备 implies not just that nothing is missing, but that the structure is rigorous and well-designed. Common in legal, administrative, and academic writing. Often collocates with 体系 (system), 机制 (mechanism), and 制度 (institution).

Examples

1. 该国的法律体系尚不完备，在知识产权保护方面仍存在明显漏洞。 The country's legal system is not yet fully developed, and there are still obvious gaps in intellectual property protection.
2. 实验室的设备相当完备，足以支撑这类高精度的科学研究工作。 The laboratory's equipment is quite comprehensive and sufficient to support this kind of high-precision scientific research.
3. 一套完备的应急预案应当涵盖从事前防范到事后恢复的全过程。 A thorough emergency response plan should cover the entire process from pre-incident prevention through to post-incident recovery.

Usage Guide

Context: legal, academic, administrative, technical

Tone: evaluative

Do Say

• 这套监管机制已相当完备，能有效防止此类风险的发生。(This regulatory mechanism is now quite comprehensive and can effectively prevent such risks from arising.)
• 在正式提交方案之前，我们需要确保论证材料完备无缺。(Before formally submitting the proposal, we need to ensure that all supporting materials are complete and without gaps.)

Don't Say

• 把完备和完美混用 (完备 = nothing is missing, fully comprehensive; 完美 = flawless, perfect — a system can be 完备 without being 完美)

Origin & History

Compound of 完 (complete, whole) + 备 (prepared, equipped, to provide for). Together they mean 'completely provided for' — lacking nothing and fully ready. 备 carries a strong sense of systematic preparation and provision.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Educated/professional