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The earthquake has not happened yet. Why secure the furniture now? Look at the picture: which comes first, the preparation or the earthquake?

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Lesson notes · ≈ JLPT N2 · Intermediate 2

〜に備えて~ni sonaete

in preparation for

Use 「〜に備えて」 after a noun for preparations made before a possible future situation.

How it works

The earthquake has not happened yet. Why secure the furniture now? Look at the picture: which comes first, the preparation or the earthquake?
「に備えて」 means preparing in advance for a future situation. That situation may not actually occur.
It follows a noun, as in 「地震に備えて」. The noun names the situation you are preparing for.
The second half states the preparations: reinforcing pillars, securing furniture, or packing an emergency bag—all to prepare for an earthquake.
It is not limited to disasters. You can also use 「に備えて」 for installing an air conditioner ahead of the summer heat.

Look at the sentence endings: installing the air conditioner may still be planned, while reinforcing the pillars may already be done. In both cases, the preparation comes before th

Look at the sentence endings: installing the air conditioner may still be planned, while reinforcing the pillars may already be done. In both cases, the preparation comes before the situation.

Example sentences

夏なつnatsuのno暑さあつさatsusaにni備えそなえsonaeて、te、エアコンえあこんeakonをo取りとりtori付けます。つけます。tsukemasu。
In preparation for the summer heat, I will install an air conditioner.
地震じしんjishinにni備えそなえsonaeて、te、建物たてものtatemonoのno柱はしらhashiraをo強くつよくtsuyokuしました。shimashita。
The pillars of the building were reinforced in preparation for earthquakes.

In a conversation

「最近、さいきん、大きなおおきな地震じしんが多いですおおいですね。何なんか対策たいさくをしていますか。」か。
Recently, there have been a lot of large earthquakes. Are you taking any measures?
「はい、はい、将来しょうらいの地震じしんに備えそなえて、家具かぐを固定こていし、非常ひじょう持ち出しもちだし袋ふくろを準備じゅんびしてあります。」あります。
Yes, in preparation for future earthquakes, I have secured the furniture and prepared an emergency bag.
「それそれはわ素晴らしいですすばらしいですね。私わたしもすぐに準備じゅんびしようと思います。」おもいます。
That's wonderful. I think I'll get prepared right away, too.

Check yourself

Level 1 · Recognise
Which sentence is correct?
Level 1 · Recognise
Listen and choose the meaning
Level 2 · Build
Put the words in order
To prepare for the winter cold, we will install floor heating in the room.
Level 3 · Use
What goes in the blank?
夏の暑さに____、エアコンを取り付けます。
To prepare for the summer heat, I will install an air conditioner.

More grammar in this theme

〜に囲まれている・〜に囲まれたbe surrounded by
〜が〜を占める・〜が占めるaccount for a share
〜がちoften tends to
〜に比べてcompared with
〜に備えてin preparation for
〜に代わって・〜に代わりin place of
〜のような・〜のようにexamples such as
〜としてin the role of
〜に限るnothing beats
〜を中心にcentered around
〜をはじめとしてincluding ... as a leading example
〜を通して・〜を通じてthrough a means
〜ことからbased on the fact
〜といえばspeaking of
〜というとspeaking of; brings to mind

Previous〜に比べて Next〜に代わって・〜に代わり

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