3 · Linking clauses, further
Instead of, in return: 대신에
substitution and compensation
대신에 says that one thing takes the place of another — or that one thing is balanced by another.
대신 is a noun, “a substitute, a stand-in”, and 대신에 is that noun with 에; the 에 is often dropped. After a noun it is a separate word: 커피 대신에 차, 형 대신에. After an action verb it needs the modifier -는: 가는 대신에, 먹는 대신에, and a stem ending in l loses it: 만드는 대신에. An adjective takes its ordinary modifier: 싼 대신에, 작은 대신에.
The first meaning is substitution: “instead of A, B”. 택시를 타는 대신에 걸어갔어요 is “instead of taking a taxi, I walked”. With a person it means “in someone's place”: 형 대신에 제가 갔어요, “I went in my brother's place”.
The second meaning is a trade-off: A is the case, and B makes up for it. 이 집은 좁은 대신에 싸요 is “this flat is small, but in return it is cheap”. It also says what one person does in exchange for another: 제가 요리하는 대신에 설거지는 해 주세요, “I will cook; in return, you do the washing-up”.
English “instead of doing” uses “-ing”, and learners reach for the nominaliser: 타기 대신에. But 대신 is a noun, and a verb before a noun needs a modifier: 타는 대신에. At the start of a clause, 대신 alone means “instead” or “but then”.
The form
| after a noun | 밥 대신에 빵 |
| action verb | 가는 대신에, 먹는 대신에 |
| a stem ending in l drops it | 만들다 → 만드는 대신에 |
| adjective: a trade-off | 싼 대신에, 작은 대신에 |
| short form | 커피 대신 차 |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is about
After a noun, 대신에 is a separate word, and 에 may be dropped.
커피 대신에 녹차를 마셔요.I drink green tea instead of coffee.
An action verb takes -는 before 대신에: do B instead of doing A.
주말에는 요리하는 대신에 배달을 시켜요.At the weekend I order a delivery instead of cooking.
With an adjective, it states a trade-off: A, but to make up for it, B.
이 가방은 비싼 대신에 아주 튼튼해요.This bag is expensive, but it is very sturdy.
It also says what one person does in return for another.
제가 운전하는 대신에 길 안내는 해 주세요.I will drive; in return, please do the navigating.
대신 alone at the start of a sentence means “instead”.
오늘은 못 가요. 대신 내일 갈게요.I cannot go today. I will go tomorrow instead.
A closer look
A swap, or a trade-off
With an action verb, 대신에 is usually a swap: one action is replaced by another. With an adjective there is nothing to swap, so it becomes a trade-off: the first fact is a cost and the second the compensation, or the other way round. 월급이 적은 대신에 휴가가 길어요 weighs the two against each other.
That weighing is what separates it from -지만 and 반면에. -지만 simply sets two facts side by side, and 반면에 contrasts them; 대신에 says that one makes up for the other.
Exceptions and special cases (1)
-
the action is already over and the second half makes up for it
the verb takes the past modifier instead of -는: 일한 대신에.
어제 늦게까지 일한 대신에 오늘은 일찍 퇴근해요.I worked late yesterday, so today I am leaving early to make up for it.
The modifier follows the time of the action. -는 describes something done now or regularly; a debt from yesterday is paid with the past.
How to spot it
- 대신에
- 대신
- -는 대신에
Example sentences
엘리베이터를 타는 대신에 계단으로 올라가요.I take the stairs instead of the lift.
저녁에 밥 대신 샐러드를 먹었어요.In the evening I had a salad instead of rice.
이 동네는 조용한 대신에 교통이 불편해요.This neighbourhood is quiet, but the transport is poor.
제가 형 대신에 회의에 갔어요.I went to the meeting in my brother's place.
월급이 적은 대신에 휴가가 길어요.The pay is low, but the holidays are long.
주말에 일하는 대신에 월요일에 쉬어요.I work at the weekend, and in return I have Mondays off.
7 more example sentences
설탕 대신에 꿀을 넣었어요.I put in honey instead of sugar.
전화하는 대신에 문자를 보냈어요.I sent a text instead of calling.
이 식당은 음식이 늦게 나오는 대신에 맛이 정말 좋아요.Food takes a while at this restaurant, but it tastes really good.
오늘 제가 밥을 사는 대신에 다음에는 커피를 사 주세요.I will buy dinner today; in return, buy me a coffee next time.
사진을 찍는 대신에 그림을 그렸어요.Instead of taking a photo, I drew a picture.
이 방은 작은 대신에 햇빛이 잘 들어요.This room is small, but it gets a lot of sunlight.
영화관에 가는 대신에 집에서 영화를 봤어요.Instead of going to the cinema, we watched a film at home.
Worth knowing (1)
-
Standing in: 대신하다
As a verb, 대신하다 means “to take the place of”. Speeches and letters close with a formula built on it: the few words just said are to stand in for a proper greeting.
이것으로 인사를 대신합니다.Let these words serve as my greeting.
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
“Instead of taking” suggests a verbal noun, and -기 looks like one. But 대신 is itself a noun, and a verb that describes a noun takes a modifier: 타는 대신에, just as in 타는 사람.
Daesine swaps one thing for another, or pays for one thing with another.
Your turn
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