Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 10: 15/20

代(か)わりに

Instead of, In place of, In exchange for

Structure

Verb + 代(か)わりに
［い］Adjective + 代(か)わりに
［な］Adjective + な + 代(か)わりに
Noun + の + 代(か)わりに

Details

  • Register

    Standard

  • 使用域

    一般

About 代わりに

代(か)わり 'a substitute' is a noun that is used to convey when (B) is acting as a replacement or substitute for (A). The case marking particle に will come after 代(か)わり, before a (B) statement will highlight who the replacement is, and possibly what they are doing.
As 代(か)わり is a noun, it may be used after the attributive form of any word.
  • 俺(おれ)が社長(しゃちょう)に電話(でんわ)する代(か)わりに、お前(まえ)はお客(きゃく)さんに電話(でんわ)をしておいて。
    In exchange for me calling the boss, can you call the client in advance?
  • あのプールは古(ふる)い代(か)わりに安(やす)い。
    That pool is cheap, to substitute for it being old.
  • 仕事(しごと)は大変(たいへん)な代(か)わりに楽(たの)しい。
    Work is fun, in exchange for it being difficult.
  • 私(わたし)の代(か)わりにやってください。
    Can you do it in my place?
Occasionally, 替(か)わり 'to exchange' may be used instead of 代(か)わり 'to substitute'. However, within the context of this particular grammar structure, there is little to no change in nuance.
Fun Fact
代(か)わりに is often used at the beginning of sentences, simply to express a more preferable option for something. In these cases, it comes across as 'rather than that, (A)', or 'instead, (A)'.
  • 代(か)わりに行(い)ってくれない？
    As a replacement, can you go for me?
  • 代(か)わりにこれを持(も)って行(い)って。
    Instead of that, can you go take this?

Examples

  • 私(わたし)の代(か)わりにこの問題(もんだい)を解(と)いてください。

    Please solve this question instead of me.

  • バナナが嫌(きら)いで食(た)べれないからビタミンが取(と)れない。バナナの代(か)わりに何(なに)を食(た)べたらいい？

    I don't like bananas so I don't eat them and can't get those vitamins.
    What should I eat in place of a banana?

  • 彼(かれ)が遅刻(ちこく)をしてしまったので、彼(かれ)の代(か)わりに発表(はっぴょう)した。

    Since he was late, I presented instead of him.

  • 先生(せんせい)が風邪(かぜ)をひいて休(やす)んだので、代(か)わりに校長(こうちょう)先生(せんせい)が授業(じゅぎょう)をした。

    Because the teacher caught a cold and took the day off, the principal taught the class in his place.

  • コーヒーの代(か)わりに紅茶(こうちゃ)では駄目(だめ)ですか？

    Is tea in place of coffee not good enough?

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代わりに – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (5 in total)

  • conan

    conan

    DIJG also covers this as “to make up for”, as in: 昼間遊ぶ代わりに夜勉強するつもりだ。“I am going to enjoy myself in the daytime, so/but (to make up for it) I will study at night.”

    Will this nuance be added?

  • testing

    testing

    What does that mean? How is it fun “in exchange” for it being difficult?

    I’ve been puzzling with a native English speaker (who’s also learning Japanese) over this, and while we can come up with “Work is difficult but fun.”, it doesn’t sound like that would need a 代わりに in Japanese, so we’re a bit stumped.

  • Sammouse

    Sammouse

    Upon reading the other resources it seems that 代わりに has the nuance of “to make up for”, which fits the translation much better. The translation bunpro provided confused me in the same way and this is how I was able to rationalise it

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