Japanese word

代わる代わる

Pronunciation

Romajikawarugawaru

Meaning

  • adverbin turn

Example

生徒たちは代わる代わる答えます。sei to ta chi wa ka wa ru ga wa ru kota e ma su

The students answer in turn.

Illustration for 代わる代わる (in turn)

More examples

子どもたちは舞台に代わる代わる登場します。ko do mo ta chi wa bu tai ni ka wa ru ga wa ru tō jō shi ma su

The children appear on the stage one after another.

Core concept

Shows a shared action moving from one person to the next as each person takes a turn.

Common phrases

  • 代わる代わる登場するka wa ru ga wa ru tō jō su ru

    appear one after another

  • 代わる代わる答えるka wa ru ga wa ru kota e ru

    answer in turn

Similar words

順番にjunbanni: Each person acts when their place in an established order arrives.
交互にkōgoni: Two people or groups take turns in a repeated back-and-forth pattern.
次々にtsugitsugini: People or things appear or act one after another, often without a pause.

Definition in Japanese

何人かが一人ずつ順番を替えて同じ行動をするさま。nan nin ka ga hito ri zu tsu jun ban o ka e te ona ji kō dō o su ru sa ma

Word origin

代わる代わる (kawarugawaru, "in turn") is a native Japanese adverb formed by repeating 代わる (kawaru, "to take another's place"), with the repeated form showing successive changes of person.

Usage tips

  • The English phrase in turn can also mean "as a result," so context distinguishes that meaning from the sequential sense expressed by this Japanese adverb.

Opposites

  • 同時にdōjinisimultaneouslyadverb

Related words

Word lists with this word