代(か)わり

かわり

noun

substitute; replacement; instead of

1. substitute, replacement

Something or someone that takes the place of another.

代(か)わりを探(さが)す。

To look for a replacement.

部長(ぶちょう)の代(か)わりに会議(かいぎ)に出(で)た。

I attended the meeting as a substitute for the manager.

先生(せんせい)が休(やす)みなので、代(か)わりの人(ひと)が来(き)た。

The teacher is absent, so a substitute came.

2. instead of, in exchange for

Used to indicate one thing replacing another.

彼(かれ)の代(か)わりに行(い)きます。

I'll go instead of him.

〜の代(か)わりに pattern

コーヒーの代(か)わりにお茶(ちゃ)を飲(の)んだ。

I drank tea instead of coffee.

手伝(てつだ)ってあげるから、その代(か)わりにお昼(ひる)ごはんをおごってね。

I'll help you, so in exchange, treat me to lunch.

その代(か)わり = in exchange

代(か)わり functions both as a noun meaning "substitute" or "replacement" and as part of key grammatical patterns meaning "instead of."

Common patterns

〜の代(か)わりに: instead of ~, in place of ~
その代(か)わり: in exchange for that, but on the other hand
代(か)わりに: instead (used adverbially)

Common expressions

代(か)わりを探(さが)す: to look for a replacement
代(か)わりを務(つと)める: to serve as a substitute
お代(か)わり: a refill or second helping (polite; used in restaurants)

Related words

代(か)わる (自動詞(じどうし)): to take the place of, to be replaced
代(か)える (他動詞(たどうし)): to replace, to substitute

Usage

その代(か)わり often introduces a condition or trade-off: "I'll help you, but in exchange..."

Related Words

Related: 代(か)わる (to take the place of, to be substituted)

Related: 代(か)える (to substitute, to replace with)

general

Added 2026.1.8 21:20 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:00

01000/01296_kawari