代打(だいだ)

だいだ
noun
pinch hitter; substitute batter
1. pinch hitter; substitute batter
A baseball term for a batter who replaces another in the batting order, typically at a critical moment in the game.
九回(きゅうかい)に代打(だいだ)が出(で)た。
A pinch hitter was sent in during the ninth inning.
監督(かんとく)は代打(だいだ)にベテラン選手(せんしゅ)を起用(きよう)した。
The manager put in a veteran player as pinch hitter.
代打(だいだ)のホームランで試合(しあい)がひっくり返(かえ)った。
A home run by the pinch hitter turned the game around.
2. substitute; stand-in; fill-in
By extension from the baseball term, a person who steps in to take someone else's place in any situation.
部長(ぶちょう)の代打(だいだ)で会議(かいぎ)に出(で)た。
I attended the meeting as a stand-in for the department head.
急病(きゅうびょう)の先生(せんせい)の代打(だいだ)として授業(じゅぎょう)を担当(たんとう)した。
I filled in for the teacher who suddenly fell ill and took over the class.
ドラマの撮影(さつえい)で、主役(しゅやく)の代打(だいだ)を務(つと)めた俳優(はいゆう)が話題(わだい)になった。
The actor who stood in for the lead during filming became a topic of conversation.

A baseball term that has become widely used in everyday Japanese. Combines 代(だい) (substitute) and 打(だ) (hit/bat). In baseball, the announcement "代打(だいだ)、○○" is a familiar phrase heard at games.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 代打(だいだ)を出(だ)す: send in a pinch hitter
  • 代打(だいだ)を務(つと)める: serve as a substitute
  • 代打(だいだ)ホームラン: pinch-hit home run
  • 代打(だいだ)の切(き)り札(ふだ): ace pinch hitter (trump card substitute)

USAGE:
The figurative sense (sense 2) is common in business and everyday conversation. It carries a nuance of stepping up to help at a crucial moment, reflecting its baseball origins.

RELATED BASEBALL TERMS:

  • 代走(だいそう): pinch runner
  • 代役(だいやく): substitute (for a role), understudy — similar figurative usage but comes from theater rather than baseball
general
Added 2026.3.26 17:36
19500/19621_daida