1.
to substitute, to replace with, to use in place of
To use one thing in place of another. The focus is on providing a substitute or alternative for something.
バターをマーガリンに代えた。
I substituted margarine for butter.
挨拶に代えて、メールを送った。
I sent an email in lieu of a formal greeting.
書面をもって報告に代えさせていただきます。
Please allow this written document to serve in place of a verbal report.
代える is a transitive ichidan verb meaning to substitute or replace with something. The intransitive pair is 代わる.
TRANSITIVITY:
- Type: transitive (他動詞)
- Pair: 代わる (intransitive — to take the place of)
- Pattern: AをBに代える (to substitute B for A)
ASPECT (ている):
- 代えている = has substituted, is using as a substitute (resulting state)
COMMON PATTERNS:
- AをBに代える (to substitute B for A)
- 〜に代えて (in place of, instead of)
- 挨拶に代える (to serve as a greeting)
DISTINCTIONS:
- 代える: to substitute, to use as a replacement for
- 変える: to change, to alter (modify something's state)
- 換える / 替える: to exchange, to swap (interchangeable items)