Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
‘Instead of’, ‘In exchange for’, or ‘On the other hand’.
🎯 Primary Function
To express replacement, compensation, or contrast between two related facts.
📋 Grammar Structure
Verb (dictionary form/Ta-form) + 代わりに (kawarini) / Noun + の (no) + 代わりに (kawarini)
Dictionary form of i-adjective + 代わりに (kawarini)
Na-adjective + な (na) + 代わりに (kawarini)
Verb-nai form + 代わりに (kawarini)
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Used in business when discussing substitutes or contractual trade-offs.
Informal Situations
Common in daily life for making deals with friends or discussing alternatives.
Written Language
Used in essays and reports to contrast pros and cons.
Spoken Language
Frequently used in conversation to explain choices.
💡 Common Applications
Substitution of Persons or Things
Replacing one entity with another.
Example: Kuruma no kawari ni densha de iku (Go by train instead of car).
Exchange or Compensation
Doing something as a trade-off for another action.
Example: Tetsudau kawari ni gohan wo ogoru (Buy dinner in exchange for helping).
Contrasting Characteristics
Balancing a positive trait with a negative one (or vice versa).
Example: Benri na kawari ni bukka ga takai (Convenient, but on the other hand, cost of living is high).
Frequency
Very High
Difficulty
JLPT N3
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Example Sentences
Example #1
田中さんの代わりに、私が行きます。
Furigana: たなかさんの かわりに、わたしが いきます。
Romaji: Tanaka-san no kawari ni, watashi ga ikimasu.
English: I will go instead of Mr. Tanaka.
Example #2
英語を教えてもらう代わりに、日本語を教えます。
Furigana: えいごを おしえて もらう かわりに、にほんごを おしえます。
Romaji: Eigo wo oshiete morau kawari ni, nihongo wo oshiemasu.
English: In exchange for you teaching me English, I’ll teach you Japanese.
Example #3
テレビを見る代わりに、図書館に行きました。
Furigana: テレビを みる かわりに、としょかんに いきました。
Romaji: Terebi wo miru kawari ni, toshokan ni ikimashita.
English: I went to the library instead of watching TV.
Example #4
このアパートは狭い代わりに、家賃が安いです。
Furigana: この アパートは せまい かわりに、やちんが やすいです。
Romaji: Kono apaato wa semai kawari ni, yachin ga yasui desu.
English: This apartment is small, but on the other hand, the rent is cheap.
Example #5
牛乳の代わりに、豆乳を使います。
Furigana: ぎゅうにゅうの かわりに、とうにゅうを つかいます。
Romaji: Gyuunyuu no kawari ni, tounyuu wo tsukaimasu.
English: I use soy milk instead of milk.
Example #6
日曜日に働く代わりに、月曜日に休みます。
Furigana: にちようびに はたらく かわりに、げつようびに やすみます。
Romaji: Nichiyoubi ni hataraku kawari ni, getsuyoubi ni yasumimasu.
English: In exchange for working on Sunday, I will take Monday off.
Example #7
彼はスポーツが得意な代わりに、勉強はあまり得意ではありません。
Furigana: かれは スポーツが とくいな かわりに、べんきょうは あまり とくいではありません。
Romaji: Kare wa supootsu ga tokui na kawari ni, benkyou wa amari tokui dewa arimasen.
English: He is good at sports, but on the other hand, he’s not very good at studying.
Example #8
ペンの代わりに、鉛筆を使ってください。
Furigana: ペンの かわりに、えんぴつを つかって ください。
Romaji: Pen no kawari ni, enpitsu wo tsukatte kudasai.
English: Please use a pencil instead of a pen.
Example #9
今日残業する代わりに、明日は早く帰ります。
Furigana: きょう ざんぎょうする かわりに、あしたは はやく かえります。
Romaji: Kyou zangyou suru kawari ni, ashita wa hayaku kaerimasu.
English: In exchange for staying late today, I will go home early tomorrow.
Example #10
私の代わりに会議に出てくれませんか。
Furigana: わたしの かわりに かいぎに でて くれませんか。
Romaji: Watashi no kawari ni kaigi ni dete kuremasenka?
English: Could you go to the meeting instead of me?
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Substitution of People
When used for people, it implies the person is acting as a representative or substitute.
Example: Yamada-san no kawari ni shusseki shimasu.
Balancing Pros and Cons
When used for qualities, it often balances a negative aspect with a positive one.
Example: Semai kawari ni yachin ga yasui.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ Yamada-san kawari ni…
✅ Yamada-san no kawari ni…
When using with a noun, you must use the particle ‘no’.
❌ Benri kawari ni…
✅ Benri na kawari ni…
Na-adjectives require ‘na’ before ‘kawari ni’.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Neutral; appropriate for all politeness levels depending on the sentence ending.
Social Situations: Crucial for ‘give-and-take’ social interactions in Japan.
Regional Variations: Standard Japanese.
🔍 Subtle Differences
代わりに vs に代わって (ni kawatte)
‘Ni kawatte’ is strictly for replacing someone’s role/function and is more formal. ‘Kawari ni’ is broader, covering exchange and contrast.
When to use: Use ‘ni kawatte’ for formal representation; use ‘kawari ni’ for general ‘instead’ or ‘in exchange’.
📝 Conjugation Notes
Verb (Casual), Noun + no, I-adj (Dictionary), Na-adj + na.
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
The pitch usually drops on ‘ri’. Ka-WA-ri-ni.
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of ‘kawari’ (代わり) as ‘substitute’. The particle ‘ni’ marks the role of being a substitute. In exchange for A, B happens.
Other Grammar
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