1.
alternately; by turns; in turn
Describes two or more things happening in an alternating pattern, taking turns one after another.
左右交互に足を上げる。
Raise your legs alternately, left and right.
赤と白の花を交互に植えた。
I planted red and white flowers alternately.
この曲では、ピアノとバイオリンが交互にメロディーを奏でる構成になっている。
In this piece, the piano and violin take turns playing the melody.
USAGE:
The base word 交互 is a noun/na-adjective meaning 'alternation.' The adverbial form 交互に is the most common usage. Describes a regular back-and-forth pattern between two or more elements.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 交互に繰り返す (repeat alternately)
- 交互に並べる (arrange alternately)
- 交互に行う (do in turns)
- 左右交互に (alternating left and right)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 代わる代わる: in turn/one after another — emphasizes people taking turns; more colloquial
- 順番に: in order/in sequence — follows a set order, not necessarily alternating