Structure
Verb + 代わりに
[い]Adjective + 代わりに
[な]Adjective + な + 代わりに
Noun + の + 代わりに
Details
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Standard
使用域
一般
About 代わりに
代わり '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 代わり, before a (B) statement will highlight who the replacement is, and possibly what they are doing.
As 代わり is a noun, it may be used after the attributive form of any word.
As 代わり is a noun, it may be used after the attributive form of any word.
- 俺が社長に電話する代わりに、お前はお客さんに電話をしておいて。In exchange for me calling the boss, can you call the client in advance?
- あのプールは古い代わりに安い。That pool is cheap, to substitute for it being old.
- 仕事は大変な代わりに楽しい。Work is fun, in exchange for it being difficult.
- 私の代わりにやってください。Can you do it in my place?
Fun Fact
代わりに 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)'.- 代わりに行ってくれない?As a replacement, can you go for me?
- 代わりにこれを持って行って。Instead of that, can you go take this?
Synonyms
Examples
私の代わりにこの問題を解いてください。
Please solve this question instead of me.
バナナが嫌いで食べれないからビタミンが取れない。バナナの代わりに何を食べたらいい?
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?彼が遅刻をしてしまったので、彼の代わりに発表した。
Since he was late, I presented instead of him.
先生が風邪をひいて休んだので、代わりに校長先生が授業をした。
Because the teacher caught a cold and took the day off, the principal taught the class in his place.
コーヒーの代わりに紅茶では駄目ですか?
Is tea in place of coffee not good enough?
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Grammar: Instead Of
NihonOnTheGo
代わりに「かわりに」
JLPTSensei
〜代わりに
日本語教師
Offline
Tobira
Page 44
[DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
Page 184
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代わりに – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (5 in total)
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
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
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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