N3 · Expressions (N3)
かわりに: instead, and in return
in place of, and in exchange for
かわりに means "instead of" or "on behalf of" — and after a clause, "in return for".
代わり is the noun of 代わる, "to take the place of". Noun + の代わりに means "instead of" or "on behalf of": 父の代わりに会議に出る, "attend the meeting in my father's place". On its own at the start of a clause, 代わりに is simply "instead".
After the dictionary form of a verb it means "instead of doing": 映画に行く代わりに、家で休んだ, "instead of going to the cinema, I rested at home". No の goes in between — a verb attaches to a noun directly.
After a full clause, 代わりに can mean "in return for": 手伝ってもらう代わりに、昼ご飯をおごる, "in return for your help, I will buy you lunch". With adjectives it weighs a good side against a bad one: この部屋は狭い代わりに家賃が安い, "the room is small, but to make up for it the rent is low".
Both 代わりに and かわりに are common in print. English speakers mostly stumble over the の: it is needed after a noun and wrong after a verb. Note also that 代わる is a different word from 変わる, "to change", though both are read kawaru.
The form
| instead of (a noun) | 父の代わりに |
| instead of doing | 行く代わりに |
| instead (on its own) | 代わりに |
| in return for | 教えてもらう代わりに |
| on the other hand (i-adjective) | 安い代わりに |
| on the other hand (na-adjective) | 便利な代わりに |
The rules one by one
Noun + の + かわりに: instead of something, or on behalf of someone.
部長の代わりに、私が説明します。I will explain on behalf of the department head.
Dictionary form + かわりに, with no の: instead of doing something.
タクシーに乗る代わりに、歩いて帰った。Instead of taking a taxi, I walked home.
A clause + かわりに can mean "in return for".
英語を教える代わりに、日本語を教えてもらっている。In return for teaching English, I am being taught Japanese.
With adjectives, かわりに weighs a good side against a bad one.
この店は安い代わりに、サービスはよくない。This shop is cheap, but the service is not good.
A closer look
その代わり: but in return
At the start of a sentence, その代わり means "but in return" or "but then again", and it is how deals are made in conversation: 今回は手伝うよ。その代わり、次は頼むね, "I will help this time. In return, I am counting on you next time".
It also balances pros and cons across two sentences, just as the adjective use does inside one: 給料は安い。その代わり、休みが多い. Whichever half comes second is the one the speaker leans on.
How to spot it
- の代わりに
- 代わりに
- かわりに
- その代わり
Example sentences
今日はご飯の代わりにパンを食べた。Today I ate bread instead of rice.
病気の田中さんの代わりに、山田さんが来ました。Ms Yamada came in place of Mr Tanaka, who is ill.
週末は出かける代わりに、家でゆっくり本を読んだ。At the weekend, instead of going out, I read at home at my leisure.
駅から遠い代わりに、部屋は広くて静かだ。It is far from the station, but the flat is spacious and quiet.
宿題を手伝う代わりに、弟に皿洗いをしてもらった。In return for helping with his homework, I got my younger brother to do the washing-up.
ペンがなかったので、代わりに鉛筆で書いた。I had no pen, so I wrote with a pencil instead.
7 more example sentences
母の代わりに、私が弟を迎えに行った。I went to pick up my brother in my mother's place.
会議に出られないので、代わりにメールで意見を送ります。I cannot attend the meeting, so I will send my views by email instead.
砂糖の代わりに蜂蜜を使ってもいいです。You can use honey instead of sugar.
車を買う代わりに、自転車を買った。Instead of buying a car, I bought a bicycle.
この仕事は給料がいい代わりに、休みが少ない。This job pays well, but there are few days off.
今回は手伝うよ。その代わり、次は私を助けてね。I will help this time. In return, help me next time.
田舎は不便な代わりに、自然が豊かだ。The countryside is inconvenient, but nature is all around you.
Worth knowing (1)
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Two verbs that sound like かわる
代わる, "to take someone's place", and 変わる, "to change", sound the same and are kept apart by their kanji. On the telephone, 代わります means "I will hand you over".
少々お待ちください。田中に代わります。One moment, please. I will put you through to Tanaka.
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
代わり is a noun, and one noun is linked to another with の. A verb or an adjective attaches directly (行く代わりに), but a noun never does.
After a noun, の comes before かわりに; after a verb or adjective, nothing does.
Your turn
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