JLPT N3

～代わりに

Instead of; in exchange for; in return for

Structure

Verb plain form + 代わりに / Noun + の + 代わりに / Noun + 代わりに

How it works

This grammar point expresses that one action or thing is done in place of another, or that something is received in exchange for something else. It can also imply a balance or a trade-off.

Examples

車で通勤する代わりに、電車を利用している。

Instead of commuting by car, I use the train.

Common mistakes

Confusing it with simply describing a choice without the 'instead of' nuance.

Tip

Remember the kanji '代' (dai) means 'substitute' or 'replace'.

More JLPT N3 grammar

としてに対してについてによってに関してにとってわけだわけがない

See ～代わりに in real Japanese

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