JLPT N3 Grammar – Difference between “〜代わりに” and “〜に代わって”

Table of Contents

1. Difference between “〜代かわりに” and “〜に代かわって”
2. A代かわりにB
3. Aに代かわってB
4. Let’s Compare
5. Summary
6. Quiz
7. Similar Articles
8. Comment

Q: Can “〜代かわりに” and “〜に代かわって” be used interchangeably?

A: There are cases where these two can be used interchangeably and cases where they cannot. Let’s look at each.

A代かわりにB (JLPT N3)

[Meaning ① Proxy/Replacement]
Do B instead of A

[Rules]
[V] Verb dictionary form＋代かわりに
[N] Noun＋の＋代かわりに

[Examples]
今日きょうは料理りょうりをする代かわりにピザをたのみました。
Instead of cooking, today I ordered pizza.

ダイエットをしているからおかしの代かわりにくだものを食たべています。
Since I’m on a diet, I’m eating fruit instead of sweets.

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[Meaning ② Compensation/Exchange Condition]
Do B in exchange for A

[Rules]
[V] Verb plain form＋代かわりに　
[Na] な adjective＋代かわりに　
　　 な adjectiveな ＋である＋代かわりに
[N] Noun＋である＋代かわりに

[Examples]
山本やまもとさんに日本にほん語ごを教おしえてもらった代かわりに中国ちゅうごく語ごを教おしえました。
In exchange for Mr. Yamamoto teaching me Japanese, I taught him Chinese.

ここは便利べんりな代かわりに家賃やちんが高たかいです。
While this place is convenient, the rent is high.

有名ゆうめいなレストランである代かわりに悪口わるくちを言いわれることもあります。
Although it is a famous restaurant, it also receives some negative comments.

Aに代かわってB (JLPT N3)

[Meaning: Proxy]
Not the usual A

[Rules]
[N] Noun＋に代かわって

[Examples]
母ははは忙いそがしいので母ははに代かわって買かい物ものに行いきました。
Since my mother is busy, I went shopping in her place.

父ちちが亡なくなってから父ちちに代かわって兄あにが父親ちちおやのようなものです。
After my father passed away, my older brother has taken on the role of a father.

今日きょうは田中たなか先生せんせいがお休やすみなので、田中たなか先生せんせいに代かわって私わたしが授業じゅぎょうをします。
Since Mr. Tanaka is off today, I will teach the class in his place.

部長ぶちょうに代かわって会議かいぎに出席しゅっせきしました。
I attended the meeting on behalf of the department manager.

Let’s Compare

When A represents a person, it means “acting as a proxy for that person,” and when it represents a thing, it means “as a substitute for A.” Both can be used, but “に代かわって” is a slightly more formal expression.

[Examples]
◯ 母ははは忙いそがしいので母ははの代かわりに買かい物ものに行いった。
◯ 母ははは忙いそがしいので母ははに代かわって買かい物ものに行いった。
Since my mother is busy, I went shopping in her place.

◯ 今日きょうは山本やまもとさんの代かわりにそうじをした。
◯ 今日きょうは山本やまもとさんに代かわってそうじをした。
Today, I did the cleaning instead of Mr. Yamamoto.

◯ 紙かみの本ほんの代かわりにデジタルの本ほんが人気にんきです。
◯ 紙かみの本ほんに代かわってデジタルの本ほんが人気にんきです。
Digital books are popular in place of paper books.

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[A代かわりにB]

When you want to express “compensation,” “代かわりに” is used.
This “compensation” has two meanings: ① two opposing aspects and ② an exchange condition.

[Examples]
ここは便利べんりな代かわりに家賃やちんが高たかいです。（①）
While this place is convenient, the rent is high.
⇒ “Convenient” and “high rent” are opposing aspects.
　 In this case, the subject must be the same.
　　
クラスのたろうくんは運動うんどうが得意とくいな代かわりに勉強べんきょうが全まったくできません。（①）
Taro in our class is good at sports, but he is not good at studying.
⇒ “Good at sports” and “not good at studying” are opposing aspects.

山本やまもとさんに日本にほん語ごを教おしえてもらった代かわりに中国ちゅうごく語ごを教おしえました。（②）
In exchange for Mr. Yamamoto teaching me Japanese, I taught him Chinese.
⇒ Mr. Yamamoto’s “Japanese” and the speaker’s “Chinese” are exchange conditions.

子供こども：お母かあさん、このケーキ食たべてもいい？（②）
母はは：その代かわりに明日あしたのおやつは無なしね。
Child: Mom, can I eat this cake?
Mother: In exchange, there will be no snacks tomorrow.
⇒ “That” refers to the child eating the cake.
　 It means that in exchange for eating the cake today, there will be no cake tomorrow.

Summary

[A代かわりにB]

• When A represents a person, it means “acting as a proxy for someone.”
• When A represents a thing, it means “substitution of one thing for another.”
• When expressing “compensation,” it has two meanings: ① two opposing aspects and ② an exchange condition.

[ＡきりＢ]

• When A represents a person, it means “acting as a proxy for someone.”
• When A represents a thing, it means “substitution of one thing for another.”

Quiz

Read the following sentence and choose the expression that fits the context from the options provided in the parentheses.

Click on the question to check the answer.

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