The Meaning of yōi [用意] In Japanese

用意
ようい
Romaji: yōi N5

What does 用意 mean?

Translation and Meaning

preparation, arrangement, provision

Definition

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.

Type

Noun (名詞); can take suru to form 用意する

Stroke Order

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.

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.

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.

Usage

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).
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: imagine a planner that blends use (用) with mind (意): only when both are prepared do you have true readiness.

Variations

  • 準備 junbi — synonym meaning preparation
  • 用意周到 youi-shūtō — thorough preparation
  • セットアップ setto appu — setup, arrangement

Example Phrases

  • 朝の準備で 弁当と 飲み物を 用意して 忘れ物が ないか チェックした。
    Asa no junbi de bentou to nomimono o youi shite wasuremono ga nai ka chekku shita.
    During morning prep, I prepared lunch and drinks and checked that I hadn’t forgotten anything.
    Lista:
    • 朝の準備で (Asa no junbi de) – during morning preparations
    • 弁当と (bentou to) – lunch and
    • 飲み物を (nomimono o) – drinks
    • 用意して (youi shite) – preparing
    • 忘れ物が (wasuremono ga) – forgotten items
    • ないか (nai ka) – if there isn’t
    • チェックした (chekku shita) – checked
    A palavra 「用意」 significa preparação; aqui aparece como o substantivo em 「用意して」, a forma て de 用意する, indicando ‘preparar’ itens para o dia.
  • 今夜、新しい額縁を壁に打付けるために、金槌を用意した。
    konya, atarashii gakubuchi o kabe ni uchitsukeru tame ni, kanazuchi o youi shita.
    Tonight I prepared a hammer to nail a new frame to the wall.
    Lista:
    • 今夜 (konya) – tonight
    • 新しい (atarashii) – new
    • 額縁 (gakubuchi) – frame
    • を (wo) – object marker
    • 壁 (kabe) – wall
    • に (ni) – to
    • 打付ける (uchitsukeru) – to nail/attach by hammering
    • ために (tame ni) – for the purpose of
    • 金槌 (kanazuchi) – hammer
    • を (wo) – object marker
    • 用意した (youi shita) – prepared
    The transitive verb 「打付ける」 means to nail or attach by hammering; XをYに打付ける expresses attaching X to Y. The phrase 「打付けるために」 indicates purpose.
  • 旦那は今朝、私のコーヒーを用意してくれた。
    Danna wa kesa, watashi no koohii o youi shite kureta.
    My husband prepared my coffee this morning.
    Lista:
    • 旦那は (danna wa) – my husband
    • 今朝 (kesa) – this morning
    • 私の (watashi no) – my
    • コーヒーを (koohii o) – coffee
    • 用意してくれた (youi shite kureta) – prepared for me
    「旦那」 é um termo coloquial para ‘husband’ usado por mulheres; neste contexto funciona como o tópico da frase marcado por は, e 「くれる」 indica que a ação é realizada em benefício do falante.
  • 空港の 両替所で 両替をお願いします 1万円分をください すぐ用意します
    Kukou no ryougaejo de ryougae o onegai shimasu ichiman-en-bun o kudasai sugu youi shimasu
    At the airport’s currency exchange, please exchange 10,000 yen; I’ll have it ready right away.
    Lista:
    • 空港の (Kukou no) – at the airport
    • 両替所で (ryougaejo de) – at the currency exchange desk
    • 両替をお願いします (ryougae o onegai shimasu) – please exchange money
    • 1万円分をください (ichiman-en-bun o kudasai) – please give me 10,000 yen worth
    • すぐ用意します (sugu youi shimasu) – I’ll prepare it right away
    Here, 「両替」 acts as the noun meaning currency exchange, used with をお願いします to request the service.
用意