This page in your language
فارسی العربية Deutsch Español Français 日本語 한국어 Português 中文 हिन्दी
B2 noun 12 min read

備品

bihin
Examples
Explanation 備品 in your Level:
At the A1 beginner level, the most important thing to know about the word '備品' (bihin) is that it means 'things in a room' that belong to a school, a company, or a hotel. Think about your classroom. You have a desk (机 - tsukue) and a chair (椅子 - isu). These are 'bihin'. They belong to the school. You cannot take them home. If you go to a hotel in Japan, you will see a television (テレビ - terebi) and a bed (ベッド - beddo). These are also 'bihin'. They belong to the hotel. It is a very simple noun. You use it just like any other noun. For example, you can say 'これは備品です' (Kore wa bihin desu), which means 'This is equipment.' Or you can say '備品があります' (Bihin ga arimasu), which means 'There is equipment.' When you start working in Japan or going to a Japanese school, your teacher or your boss will use this word to talk about the computers, the desks, and the whiteboards. The opposite of 'bihin' is your own personal stuff, like your own bag or your own pen. Remember that 'bihin' is for big things that you use for a long time, not things like paper that you throw away.
Sign up free to read full explanation
At the A2 elementary level, you can start using '備品' (bihin) in more practical, everyday sentences, especially if you are studying or working in Japan. 'Bihin' means equipment, fixtures, or supplies that are provided by an organization for you to use. For example, if you get a job at a Japanese company, they will give you a computer and a phone. These are company 'bihin'. You need to know how to talk about using them, breaking them, or looking for them. You can use verbs like 使う (tsukau - to use) or 壊す (kowasu - to break). A very common sentence is '会社の備品を大切に使ってください' (Kaisha no bihin o taisetsu ni tsukatte kudasai), which means 'Please use the company equipment carefully.' If you accidentally break something, you must tell your boss: 'すみません、備品を壊してしまいました' (Sumimasen, bihin o kowashite shimaimashita - I am sorry, I broke the equipment). You might also need to ask where things are kept. You can ask, '備品はどこですか？' (Bihin wa doko desu ka? - Where is the equipment?). In a hotel, if you look at the rule book in your room, it will say '客室備品' (kyakushitsu bihin - guest room equipment). This tells you what belongs to the hotel.
Sign up free to read full explanation
At the B1 intermediate level, your understanding of '備品' (bihin) should expand to include office management and the distinction between different types of items. At this level, you should clearly understand the difference between '備品' (equipment/fixtures that last a long time, like a printer or a desk) and '消耗品' (shoumouhin - consumable supplies that get used up, like paper, ink, and pens). In a Japanese office, managing these items is very important. You will often hear the word '管理する' (kanri suru - to manage) used with bihin. For example, '総務部がオフィスの備品を管理しています' (Soumubu ga ofisu no bihin o kanri shite imasu - The general affairs department manages the office equipment). If you need a new computer mouse or a chair, you cannot just buy it yourself; you have to ask the company. You would use the phrase '備品を購入する' (bihin o kounyuu suru - to purchase equipment). You might also need to fill out a form to request it. When you borrow a projector for a meeting, you are borrowing bihin, and when you are finished, you must return it: '備品を返却する' (bihin o henkyaku suru - to return equipment). Knowing these verbs makes you sound much more natural in a business setting.
Sign up free to read full explanation
At the B2 upper-intermediate level, which is the exact target level for this word, '備品' (bihin) becomes a key vocabulary word for navigating Japanese corporate culture, administrative procedures, and professional communication. You are expected to understand the nuances of organizational asset management. In a Japanese company, bihin are strictly tracked. Every item usually has a sticker with a barcode, known as a 備品管理ラベル (bihin kanri raberu). You need to be familiar with the concept of 棚卸し (tanaoroshi - inventory counting), where employees check if all the bihin are still there and in good condition. A typical B2-level sentence would be: '来週、全社的な備品の棚卸しが行われるため、各自デスク周りの備品リストを確認してください' (Next week, a company-wide inventory check of equipment will take place, so please check the equipment list around your desk). You should also understand the concept of 私物化 (shibutsuka - treating company property as personal property), which is highly frowned upon. '会社の備品を私物化してはいけない' (You must not treat company equipment as your own). Furthermore, when an item is old and broken, it must be officially disposed of using the term 廃棄する (haiki suru - to dispose). Mastering these administrative terms surrounding 'bihin' is crucial for anyone working in a Japanese corporate environment.
At the C1 advanced level, your use of '備品' (bihin) should integrate seamlessly with formal business operations, accounting principles, and facility management. You should be able to discuss the procurement, depreciation, and lifecycle management of corporate assets. In accounting contexts, the distinction between 備品 (equipment) and 消耗品 (consumables) is not just practical; it is a strict legal and tax-related boundary. Items that cost over a certain amount (typically 100,000 yen in Japan) and have a useful life of more than one year must be capitalized as fixed assets (固定資産 - kotei shisan) under the 'bihin' account, rather than being expensed immediately. You might encounter sentences like: 'このサーバーは取得価額が10万円を超えるため、消耗品費ではなく備品として固定資産台帳に計上し、減価償却を行う必要があります' (Because the acquisition cost of this server exceeds 100,000 yen, it must be recorded on the fixed asset register as equipment rather than a consumable expense, and it must be depreciated). You should also be comfortable discussing the strategic management of these assets, such as optimizing procurement costs (備品調達コストの削減) or managing the logistics of moving bihin during a major corporate relocation (オフィス移転に伴う備品の移設と廃棄の計画).
Sign up free to read full explanation
At the C2 mastery level, you possess a native-like command of '備品' (bihin) across all domains, including corporate governance, legal compliance, and complex administrative frameworks. You can read and draft internal corporate regulations (社内規程 - shanai kitei) regarding asset management. For instance, you would be comfortable creating a '備品管理規程' (Equipment Management Policy) that dictates the exact workflows for the acquisition, maintenance, lending, and disposal of corporate assets. You understand the implications of bihin in the context of information security (e.g., managing IT bihin like encrypted laptops to prevent data breaches - 情報漏洩防止のためのIT備品の厳格な管理). You can also discuss the environmental and sustainability aspects of bihin disposal, such as complying with the Act on Promotion of Recycling of Small Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (小型家電リサイクル法) when discarding office IT equipment. A C2-level discourse might involve analyzing the total cost of ownership (TCO) of office bihin versus leasing options, or auditing the bihin registry to ensure compliance with corporate tax laws and internal control standards (内部統制). Your vocabulary surrounding bihin at this level is precise, legally accurate, and contextually flawless.
Sign up free to read full explanation
Examples
The Japanese word '備品' (bihin) is a highly common and essential noun used primarily in professional, institutional, and organizational contexts to refer to equipment, fixtures, furnishings, or supplies that are kept in a specific place for a particular purpose. To truly understand this word, we must first break down the kanji characters that compose it. The first character, '備' (bi), means to equip, to provide, or to prepare. You might recognize it from other words like 準備 (junbi - preparation) or 設備 (setsubi - facilities). The second character, '品' (hin), refers to goods, articles, or items, commonly seen in words like 商品 (shouhin - merchandise) or 作品 (sakuhin - artwork). Therefore, when combined, '備品' literally translates to 'equipped items' or 'prepared goods.' In practical terms, it refers to the non-consumable assets that an organization owns and provides for its members, employees, or guests to use.

これは会社の備品なので、大切に扱ってください。

This concept is crucial in Japanese corporate culture, where the distinction between personal belongings (私物 - shibutsu) and company property (備品 - bihin) is strictly maintained. When you enter a typical Japanese office, almost everything you see that is not a consumable item (like paper or pens) or a massive structural facility (like the HVAC system) falls under the category of bihin. This includes desks, chairs, computers, printers, whiteboards, and even the coffee maker in the break room.
Corporate Asset Management
In Japanese companies, bihin are strictly tracked using inventory tags called 備品管理ラベル (bihin kanri raberu). Every desk and monitor usually has a barcode or a serial number.
The usage of this word extends far beyond the corporate office. In a school setting, bihin refers to the desks, chairs, laboratory equipment, and sports gear provided by the educational institution. In a hospital, it encompasses medical devices, patient beds, and waiting room furniture.

ホテルの客室備品をお持ち帰りにならないでください。

Another common place you will encounter this word is in the hospitality industry. When you stay at a hotel in Japan, the television, the electric kettle, the hairdryer, and the alarm clock are all considered 客室備品 (kyakushitsu bihin - guest room equipment).
Hotel Context
Hotels often have strict rules about bihin. While you can take amenities like shampoo or toothbrushes (which are consumables), taking a hairdryer (which is bihin) is considered theft.
It is very important for learners of Japanese to grasp the nuance of durability associated with this word. Bihin are items expected to last for a considerable amount of time, typically more than a year, and often have a certain monetary value that requires them to be recorded in the company's accounting books as assets.

新しいプロジェクトのために、いくつかの備品を購入する必要があります。

When people use this word in daily conversation, it is almost always in a professional, administrative, or rule-setting context. You will hear it during orientation for new employees, in emails from the general affairs department (総務部 - soumubu), or during the annual inventory check (棚卸し - tanaoroshi).

退職する際は、すべての備品を返却してください。

Resignation Process
Returning all bihin (laptops, phones, ID cards, uniforms) is a mandatory step when leaving a Japanese company.
Understanding 'bihin' gives you a window into the structured, organized, and property-conscious nature of Japanese institutional environments. It is a word that commands a certain level of respect and responsibility, as it represents the collective resources of the group rather than the individual.

この部屋の備品は勝手に移動させないでください。

By mastering this word, you will be much better equipped to navigate the rules, expectations, and daily communications within any Japanese organization, ensuring you treat shared resources with the appropriate care and terminology.
Using the word '備品' (bihin) correctly in Japanese sentences requires an understanding of the specific verbs and particles that typically accompany it. Because bihin refers to physical assets owned by an organization, the actions associated with it usually revolve around management, usage, acquisition, and disposal.

総務部がオフィスの備品を管理しています。

One of the most common collocations is '備品を管理する' (bihin o kanri suru), which means 'to manage equipment/supplies.' In a corporate environment, this is usually the responsibility of the General Affairs department. When you need to express that someone is in charge of keeping track of these items, this is the exact phrasing you should use.
Action: Purchasing
When an office needs new items, you use the phrase 備品を購入する (bihin o kounyuu suru - to purchase equipment). This sounds much more professional than saying 備品を買う (bihin o kau).
Another critical phrase is '備品を大切に扱う' (bihin o taisetsu ni atsukau), meaning 'to treat equipment with care.' You will frequently see this written on signs in shared spaces like copy rooms or employee lounges.

これは会社の備品なので、私物化しないでください。

A very interesting and advanced usage involves the word '私物化' (shibutsuka), which means 'treating as one's personal property.' The phrase '備品を私物化する' (bihin o shibutsuka suru) is used to criticize someone who takes company property home or uses it exclusively for personal reasons without permission.
Action: Requesting
If you need a new monitor or chair, you would submit a 備品購入申請書 (bihin kounyuu shinseisho - equipment purchase request form).
When talking about the physical location of these items, you might use '備品置き場' (bihin okiba) or '備品庫' (bihinko), both of which refer to a supply room or storage area.

プロジェクターは備品庫にあります。

If an item is broken, you would say '備品が壊れた' (bihin ga kowareta - the equipment broke) or '備品を破損した' (bihin o hason shita - damaged the equipment). The latter is more formal and appropriate for official reports.

年に一度、すべての備品の棚卸しを行います。

In accounting and inventory contexts, you will hear '備品の棚卸し' (bihin no tanaoroshi), which means 'inventory check of equipment.' This is a major event in many Japanese companies at the end of the fiscal year.
Action: Returning
To return an item, use 備品を返却する (bihin o henkyaku suru). This is used when you are done using a shared projector or when you resign from the company.

不要になった備品は、規定の手続きに従って廃棄してください。

Finally, when an item is no longer needed or is beyond repair, it must be disposed of. The formal phrase for this is '備品を廃棄する' (bihin o haiki suru - to dispose of equipment). By mastering these verb pairings—管理する (manage), 購入する (purchase), 扱う (handle), 返却する (return), and 廃棄する (dispose)—you will be able to speak about office equipment with native-like fluency and professional appropriateness.
The word '備品' (bihin) is ubiquitous in Japanese society, but its usage is highly concentrated in specific environments where organizational structure, asset management, and shared resources are prominent. The most common place you will hear this word is, without a doubt, the corporate office environment. From your very first day as an employee in a Japanese company, you will be introduced to the concept of bihin.

新入社員にパソコンなどの備品を貸与する。

During orientation, HR or General Affairs will explain the rules regarding the use of company property. You will hear phrases like '備品の貸与' (bihin no taiyo - lending of equipment), referring to your company-issued laptop, smartphone, and ID badge.
Office Moves
During an office relocation (オフィス移転 - ofisu iten), bihin becomes a major topic. Employees are often tasked with labeling their bihin to ensure everything is moved to the correct new location.
Another major environment where bihin is a daily vocabulary word is the hospitality and tourism sector. If you work in or visit a hotel, ryokan (traditional Japanese inn), or even a rental conference room, bihin is the term used for all the furnishings and amenities that are meant to stay in the room.

会議室の備品リストを確認してください。

Educational institutions, from elementary schools to universities, also heavily rely on this term. Teachers and school administrators constantly manage '学校備品' (gakkou bihin - school equipment). This includes everything from the pianos in the music room to the microscopes in the science lab, and even the chalkboards and desks.
School Budgets
At the end of the school year, teachers must submit requests for new bihin for the upcoming academic year, distinguishing them from daily consumable supplies.
Hospitals and medical clinics are another critical area. In this high-stakes environment, '医療備品' (iryou bihin - medical equipment) must be meticulously tracked, maintained, and sterilized.

病院の備品は定期的に点検されています。

You will also encounter this word in the context of accounting and tax preparation. In Japanese accounting standards, bihin has a very specific legal and financial definition. It refers to tangible fixed assets that have a useful life of more than one year and a purchase price above a certain threshold (often 100,000 yen).

このパソコンは固定資産として備品勘定に計上します。

Event Management
When organizing a festival or corporate event, organizers create a 備品リスト (bihin risuto - equipment list) for items like folding chairs, tents, and PA systems that need to be rented or brought to the venue.

イベント用の備品をレンタル会社から借りました。

In summary, while you might not use 'bihin' when chatting with friends at an izakaya, it is an absolutely unavoidable and crucial vocabulary word the moment you step into any structured, professional, or institutional environment in Japan. Understanding its contexts will help you navigate Japanese administrative and corporate life with ease.
When learning the word '備品' (bihin), English speakers and other learners of Japanese frequently make several specific conceptual and vocabulary-based mistakes. The most pervasive error is failing to distinguish between '備品' (bihin) and '消耗品' (shoumouhin). In English, we might casually use the word 'supplies' to cover both a stapler and the staples that go inside it. However, in Japanese, this distinction is rigid, both linguistically and administratively.

プリンターは備品ですが、インクは消耗品です。

A printer, a desk, a whiteboard, and a hole puncher are all bihin—they are equipment expected to last a long time. Printer paper, whiteboard markers, ink cartridges, and staples are shoumouhin—they are consumables that get used up and thrown away.
The 'Supplies' Trap
If you ask the office manager for 'bihin' when you actually need a new pen or a notepad, they will be confused, as they will think you are asking for a piece of permanent furniture or hardware.
Another very common mistake is confusing '備品' (bihin) with '設備' (setsubi). While both words share the kanji '備' (to equip) and both translate loosely to 'equipment' or 'facilities' in English, their scale and nature are entirely different.

エアコンは設備ですが、扇風機は備品です。

If you complain that the 'bihin' is broken when the central heating stops working, it will sound very unnatural to a native speaker. A third mistake involves the concept of ownership. Learners sometimes use 'bihin' to refer to their own personal tools or equipment.
Personal vs. Company
Bihin implicitly means 'provided by the organization.' Your personal smartphone that you bought with your own money is 私物 (shibutsu - personal property), not bihin, even if you use it for work.

これは私の私物であり、会社の備品ではありません。

Furthermore, learners often struggle with the pronunciation and pitch accent. The word is pronounced 'bi-hi-n' with an atamadaka (head-high) or heiban (flat) pitch accent depending on the exact dialect, but typically it is relatively flat. Mispronouncing it might make it sound like you are saying 'bijin' (beautiful woman), which can lead to incredibly awkward and hilarious misunderstandings in an office environment!

新しい備品（びひん）が届きました。

Accounting Thresholds
In a strict accounting sense, a mistake is calling a 90,000 yen laptop a 'bihin' when it should be expensed immediately as a 'shoumouhin' under Japanese tax law, though colloquially employees will still call it bihin.

経理部から、それは備品ではなく消耗品として処理するように言われました。

By carefully distinguishing bihin from shoumouhin, setsubi, and shibutsu, and by paying close attention to your pronunciation, you can avoid these common pitfalls and sound much more professional and culturally aware in a Japanese workplace.
To fully master the nuance of '備品' (bihin), it is highly beneficial to compare it with similar words and understand exactly when to use an alternative. The Japanese language is rich with vocabulary related to tools, equipment, and assets, and choosing the right word demonstrates a high level of proficiency.

この工場には最新の設備が整っています。

The most closely related word is '設備' (setsubi), which translates to facilities or large-scale equipment.
備品 vs. 設備
As mentioned previously, setsubi refers to infrastructure or built-in systems (plumbing, elevators, factory machinery). Bihin refers to movable, individual items (desks, computers, projectors).
Another very important contrast is with '消耗品' (shoumouhin), which means consumable goods.

コピー用紙などの消耗品が少なくなってきた。

If you are talking about tools used for a specific task, you might use '道具' (dougu) or '用具' (yougu).
備品 vs. 道具/用具
Dougu refers to tools in a general sense (a hammer, a kitchen knife). Yougu is often used for specific activities, like スポーツ用具 (sports equipment) or 筆記用具 (writing implements). Bihin is a broader administrative term for organizational assets, which could include dougu and yougu if they belong to the company.

大工さんは自分の道具を大切にする。

When dealing with electronic devices, '機器' (kiki) or '機材' (kizai) are common alternatives.

新しいネットワーク機器を導入した。

Administrative Alternatives
In accounting, you will hear 固定資産 (kotei shisan - fixed assets). All large bihin are kotei shisan, but not all kotei shisan are bihin (land and buildings are assets, but not bihin).

会社の固定資産台帳を更新する。

Finally, there is the term '什器' (juuki), which specifically refers to office furniture and display fixtures, particularly in retail settings (like shelves in a supermarket). Juuki is a subcategory of bihin. By understanding these subtle differences, you can choose exactly the right word for the context, whether you are talking to an IT technician about 機器, a carpenter about 道具, an accountant about 固定資産, or an office manager about 備品.
Sign up free to read full explanation

Examples by Level

1

これは学校の備品です。

This is school equipment.

Noun + です (is/are).

2

備品を大切にしてください。

Please take care of the equipment.

を (object particle) + 大切にする (to take care of).

3

その机は備品です。

That desk is equipment.

は (topic particle).

4

ホテルの備品を持ち帰らないでください。

Please do not take hotel equipment home.

持ち帰る (to take home) + ないでください (please do not).

5

新しい備品を買います。

I will buy new equipment.

新しい (new) + 備品 (equipment).

6

備品はどこですか？

Where is the equipment?

どこ (where) + ですか (is it?).

7

部屋に備品がたくさんあります。

There is a lot of equipment in the room.

たくさん (a lot) + あります (there is/are).

8

このパソコンは会社の備品です。

This computer is company equipment.

会社 (company) + の (possessive particle).

1

会社の備品を壊してしまいました。

I accidentally broke the company equipment.

てしまいました (indicates regret or accidental action).

2

備品を使う時は、ノートに名前を書いてください。

When using the equipment, please write your name in the notebook.

時 (when) + てください (please do).

3

ペンは消耗品ですが、ハサミは備品です。

Pens are consumables, but scissors are equipment.

ですが (but/however).

4

会議室の備品を準備しました。

I prepared the equipment for the meeting room.

準備しました (prepared - past tense).

5

このカメラは私の私物ではなく、備品です。

This camera is not my personal property, it is equipment.

ではなく (is not X, but Y).

6

備品が足りないので、注文してください。

We don't have enough equipment, so please order more.

足りない (not enough) + ので (because/so).

7

古い備品を捨ててもいいですか？

Is it okay to throw away the old equipment?

てもいいですか (is it okay to...?).

8

備品置き場は1階にあります。

The equipment storage area is on the 1st floor.

置き場 (storage place).

1

総務部がオフィスのすべての備品を管理しています。

The General Affairs Department manages all the equipment in the office.

管理しています (is currently managing - progressive/state).

2

新しいモニターが必要な場合は、備品購入申請書を提出してください。

If you need a new monitor, please submit an equipment purchase request form.

必要な場合 (in case it is necessary) + 提出する (to submit).

3

退職する際は、貸与された備品をすべて返却しなければなりません。

When you resign, you must return all loaned equipment.

しなければなりません (must do).

4

年末に備品の棚卸しを行う予定です。

We plan to conduct an inventory check of the equipment at the end of the year.

行う予定です (plan to conduct).

5

会社の備品を私物化することは規則違反です。

Treating company equipment as personal property is a violation of the rules.

私物化する (to make personal property) + こと (nominalizer).

6

このプロジェクターは備品番号が貼られていません。

This projector does not have an equipment number sticker attached.

貼られていません (is not attached - passive state).

7

備品の故障を見つけた場合は、すぐに報告してください。

If you find a breakdown in the equipment, please report it immediately.

見つけた場合 (if/when found) + 報告する (to report).

8

イベント用の備品をレンタル会社から手配しました。

I arranged the equipment for the event from a rental company.

手配しました (arranged/procured).

1

来週、全社的な備品の棚卸しが行われるため、各自デスク周りのリストを確認してください。

Next week, a company-wide equipment inventory check will be held, so please verify the list around your respective desks.

Synonyms

設備 用具 機材 用品 什器

Antonyms

消耗品
Sign up free to see all examples

Related Content

Was this helpful?

Comments (0)

Login to Comment
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!