How common it is
设备 appears often in everyday Chinese, so it is worth practicing early and reviewing often.
Pronunciation focus
Say shè bèi slowly first, then repeat it in a short phrase. Listen for the tone shape.
Usage note
设备指用于特定用途的机器或工具，比如电脑、电话等。
Shèbèi zhǐ yòngyú tèdìng yòngtú de jīqì huò gōngjù, bǐrú diànnǎo, diànhuà děng.
Equipment refers to machines or tools used for specific purposes, such as computers, phones, etc.
Context note
学校的设备包括电脑、投影仪和打印机，帮助同学们学习。
Xuéxiào de shèbèi bāokuò diànnǎo, tóuyǐngyí hé dǎyìnjī, bāngzhù tóngxuémen xuéxí.
School equipment includes computers, projectors, and printers, helping students learn.
5 examples
这台设备很先进。
zhè tái shè bèi hěn xiān jìn。
This equipment is very advanced.
我们需要新的体育设备。
wǒ men xū yào xīn de tǐ yù shè bèi。
We need new sports equipment.
老师用设备放电影。
lǎo shī yòng shè bèi fàng diàn yǐng。
The teacher uses equipment to play a movie.
实验室里有各种设备。
shí yàn shì lǐ yǒu gè zhǒng shè bèi。
There are various equipment in the lab.
请爱护公共设备。
qǐng ài hù gōng gòng shè bèi。
Please take care of public equipment.
5 mini stories
小华用学校的设备做实验。他学会了用显微镜。
xiǎo huá yòng xué xiào de shè bèi zuò shí yàn。 tā xué huì le yòng xiǎn wēi jìng。
Xiao Hua uses school equipment to do an experiment. He learns to use a microscope.
体育课上，老师拿出新设备。同学们都很开心。
tǐ yù kè shàng， lǎo shī ná chū xīn shè bèi。 tóng xué men dōu hěn kāi xīn。
In PE class, the teacher brings out new equipment. The classmates are all happy.
小丽用设备听音乐。她觉得很放松。
xiǎo lì yòng shè bèi tīng yīn yuè。 tā jué de hěn fàng sōng。
Xiao Li uses equipment to listen to music. She feels very relaxed.
小刚修理了坏掉的设备。他真厉害。
xiǎo gāng xiū lǐ le huài diào de shè bèi。 tā zhēn lì hài。
Xiao Gang fixes the broken equipment. He is really capable.
教室里有很多设备。同学们轮流使用。
jiào shì lǐ yǒu hěn duō shè bèi。 tóng xué men lún liú shǐ yòng。
There is a lot of equipment in the classroom. The students take turns using it.