Grammar Info
N3 Lesson 10: 15/20

代(か)わりに
instead of, in place of, in exchange for

Structure
Verb + 代わりに
[い]Adjective + 代わりに
[な]Adjective + + 代わりに
Noun + + 代わりに
Details
Register Standard
使用域 一般
Information
代(か)わり ‘a substitute’ is a 名詞(めいし) that is used to convey when (B) is acting as a replacement or substitute for (A). The 格助詞(かくじょし) (case marking particle) 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 連体形(れんたいけい) (attributive form) of any word.
  • 俺(おれ)社長(しゃちょう)電話(でんわ)する代(か)わりに、お前(まえ)はお客(きゃく)さん電話(でんわ)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)わりにこれ持(も)って行(い)って。
    Instead of that, can you go take this?
Slow Male
Hide All
Hide Japanese
Hide English
私(わたし)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.
Play  
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?
Play  
彼(かれ)遅刻(ちこく)をしてしまったので、彼(かれ)代(か)わりに発表(はっぴょう)した。
Since he was late, I presented instead of him.
Play  
Online
NihonOnTheGo
日本語教師
Books
Tobira
Page 44
[DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
Page 184