pèitào: 配套 - To Form a Complete Set, Supporting, Ancillary

Keywords: 配套, peitao, pei tao, 配套设施, complete set, supporting facilities, ancillary, complementary, integrated infrastructure, Chinese real estate terms, HSK 5 vocabulary, learn Chinese.

Summary: “配套 (pèitào)” is a vital Chinese term that means “to form a complete set” or to be “supporting” or “ancillary.” It's used to describe how different parts, services, or facilities come together to create a functional and convenient whole. Most commonly heard in real estate when discussing the “配套设施 (pèitào shèshī)” or supporting facilities like nearby schools, subways, and supermarkets, the concept also applies to industry, government policy, and technology. Understanding 配套 is key to understanding modern Chinese concepts of planning, development, and convenience.

Pinyin (with tone marks): pèitào

Part of Speech: Verb, Adjective

HSK Level: HSK 5

Concise Definition: To form a complete set or to provide the supporting parts for a main entity.

In a Nutshell: Imagine you've just bought a brand new apartment. The apartment itself is the main product. The “配套” is everything else that makes it a great place to live: the subway station down the street, the supermarket next door, the park for your kids, and the hospital nearby. These are the “supporting facilities” that complete the picture. This concept of a functional, integrated system is the essence of 配套. It's not just an accessory; it's a necessary part of a complete, functional whole.

配 (pèi): To match, pair, or fit. Think of pairing wine with food or finding a matching lid for a pot. It implies a suitable and harmonious combination.

套 (tào): A set, a collection, or a cover. This character is used for things that come in sets, like a set of books (一套书, yī tào shū) or a suit (一套西装, yī tào xīzhuāng).

Together, 配套 (pèitào) literally means “to match a set.” The characters perfectly capture the idea of bringing together all the necessary, matching components to create a complete and functional system.

配套 reflects the highly practical, system-oriented mindset prevalent in modern China's rapid development. In a country that has built entire cities from the ground up in a few decades, planning for integrated systems isn't a luxury—it's a necessity. The term embodies the idea that a single project (like an apartment complex) is useless without the surrounding infrastructure to support it.

Comparison to Western Concepts: In English real estate, we might talk about “amenities” or a location's “walkability score.” However, 配套 is broader and more fundamental. “Amenities” often refer to non-essential luxuries like a swimming pool or gym. 配套, on the other hand, includes the essential “hardware” of a community: public transportation, schools, hospitals, and basic shopping. It's closer to the urban planning concept of “integrated infrastructure” but is used in everyday conversation. This highlights a cultural emphasis on holistic planning and practicality in daily life.

The King of Real Estate: This is the most common context for 配套. When buying or renting a home, the quality of the `周边配套` (zhōubiān pèitào - surrounding supporting facilities) is often more important than the apartment itself. A property with `配套齐全` (pèitào qíquán - complete and ready supporting facilities) will command a much higher price.

Industry and Business: In a supply chain, a primary manufacturer needs numerous `配套` factories to provide parts. A tech company might sell a main product and offer `配套服务` (pèitào fúwù - supporting services) like installation and maintenance.

Government and Policy: When a major new law is introduced, the government will release a series of `配套` policies and regulations to ensure it can be implemented effectively. This shows a top-down, systematic approach to governance.

Technology: A new gaming console needs a `配套` ecosystem of games and controllers. A new piece of software might require `配套` hardware to run properly.

“Supporting Facilities” vs. “Accessories”: While the charger and headphones that come with your phone are a type of 配套, don't limit the word to this meaning. Translating it simply as “accessories” misses its much larger-scale application to infrastructure, policy, and entire ecosystems. 配套 implies a more essential, integral relationship than “accessory.”

Verb vs. Adjective: Pay attention to its function in a sentence. It can act as a verb, `为…配套` (wèi… pèitào - to provide supporting parts for…), or more commonly as an adjective, `配套的设施` (pèitào de shèshī - supporting facilities).

`设施 (shèshī)` - Facilities, installations. The most common noun that `配套` modifies, forming the crucial phrase `配套设施`.

`齐全 (qíquán)` - Complete, all in readiness. Often used with 配套 to describe a place where all the necessary facilities are present, as in `配套齐全`.

`周边 (zhōubiān)` - Periphery, surrounding area. Used to define the area where you expect to find the `配套`, e.g., `小区周边配套` (the supporting facilities in the area surrounding the residential complex).

`设备 (shèbèi)` - Equipment, device. Refers more to individual pieces of machinery, whereas `设施` refers to larger installations like buildings or public works.

`完整 (wánzhěng)` - Complete, intact, integrated. This describes the state of wholeness that good `配套` helps to achieve.

`体系 (tǐxì)` - System. A large-scale concept. The various `配套` parts come together to form a functional `体系`.

`一条龙服务 (yī tiáo lóng fúwù)` - Literally “one-dragon service.” This is the service-industry equivalent of 配套, meaning an all-in-one, comprehensive service that covers everything from start to finish.