用意
Meaning in Englishpreparation, readiness
Animated kanji stroke order
Word context
What it means
用意 means the act or state of making things ready in advance, covering preparations, arrangements, and provisions needed for a task, event, or situation to ensure readiness.
Main meanings
- General meaning: preparation or getting ready for a task or event.
- Provisions or arrangements: the items and plans arranged in advance, such as equipment or materials.
- Fixed expressions: phrases like 用意ができる and 用意周到 that convey readiness or thorough planning.
How to use it
Used in formal and informal contexts to indicate planning and provisioning; typically with suru to form a verb. In business, travel, events, and daily life, it describes getting things ready such as equipment, plans, or arrangements; common collocations include 用意する (youi suru) and 用意ができる (youi ga dekiru).
Variants and close terms
- 準備 junbi — synonym meaning preparation
- 用意周到 youi-shūtō — thorough preparation
- セットアップ setto appu — setup, arrangement
Composition
- 用: to use, purpose
- 意: mind, intention
- Combination: the two kanji together express readiness achieved by planning and organizing what is needed to use things with a deliberate aim.
Etymology
on'yomi yōi combines the Sino-Japanese readings of 用 and 意; the pronunciation reflects historical Chinese phonology adapted into Japanese, with no kun'yomi used in standard usage.
Origin
Adoption of kanji from China placed this term in Japanese written language; usage appears in classical texts and everyday discourse as a general concept of preparing and arranging in advance.
Word class
Noun (名詞); can take suru to form 用意する