代わりに
kawari ni
The Japanese phrase for "instead of" is 代わりに (kawari ni).
The phrase 代わりに is used to express that one thing is being used or done in place of another. In everyday spoken Japanese, it is often used in the structure 〜の代わりに.
What does it mean word for word?
The expression is composed of the noun 代わり (kawari), which means "substitute" or "replacement" and the particle に (ni), which indicates a target or state.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you want to say "instead of doing [verb]", you use the dictionary form of the verb followed by 代わりに.
How do you pronounce it?
kawari ni
Did you know?
- The character 代 in 代わりに is also the root for the word 'generation' or 'era', as one generation substitutes the previous one.
- In Japanese, you can use 代わりに to express a trade-off or a 'compensation' for something else, such as 'I will do this for you, and in exchange (instead), I will buy you lunch'.
- In a professional setting, if you are acting as a substitute for a boss, you might use the more formal term 代理 (dairi). Using 代わりに in this context can sound slightly too casual for a business environment.
Examples in context
- 犬の代わりに猫を飼いたい。I want to keep a cat instead of a dog.This sentence shows how to use 代わりに with a noun to express a preference for one animal over another.Tatoeba #175317 by bunbuku, translation #239149 by CK
- 彼は父の代わりにそこへ行った。He went there instead of his father.This sentence demonstrates replacing one person with another using 代わりに.Tatoeba #100391 by bunbuku, translation #303307 by CK
- バスの代わりに電車で行こうよ。Let's go by train instead of by bus.This sentence illustrates how to suggest one mode of transport instead of another using 代わりに.Tatoeba #1170914 by bunbuku, translation #35395 by CK
- 彼女はテレビを見る代わりに本を読みました。She read a book instead of watching TV.
- 魚の代わりに野菜を食べました。Instead of fish, I ate vegetables.
- 山田さんは野球部に入るんじゃなくて、サッカー部に入るらしいよ。It seems that Yamada-san will join the soccer club instead of the baseball club.
- 35 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Kenta and Misaki are deciding what to drink at a cafe.
- 美咲 Misakiコーヒーを飲みますか？Kōhī o nomimasu ka?Will you drink coffee?
- 健太 Kentaいいえ、コーヒーの代わりに紅茶にします。Iie, kōhī no kawari ni kōcha ni shimasu.No, I'll have tea instead of coffee.
- 美咲 Misakiそうですか。私も紅茶にしようかな。Sō desu ka. Watashi mo kōcha ni shiyō kana.I see. Maybe I'll have tea too.
- 健太 Kentaいいですね。一緒に注文しましょう。Ii desu ne. Issho ni chūmon shimashō.That sounds good. Let's order together.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
