Japanese word

代替

Pronunciation

Romajidaitai

Meaning

  • nounsubstitute

Example

牛乳の代替として豆乳を使います。gyū nyū no dai tai to shi te tō nyū o tsuka i ma su

We use soy milk as a substitute for milk.

Illustration for 代替 (substitute)

More examples

輸入品が届かない間は、国内の商品を代替として使います。yu nyū hin ga todo ka na i aida wa koku nai no shō hin o dai tai to shi te tsuka i ma su

While the imported goods are unavailable, we use domestic products as a substitute.

Core concept

Centers on putting one thing in place of another when the original is unavailable, unsuitable, or no longer used.

Common phrases

  • 代替としてdai tai to shi te

    as a substitute

  • 代替が利くdai tai ga ki ku

    be replaceable

  • 代替を探すdai tai o saga su

    look for a substitute

Similar words

代用daiyō: The use of another thing instead of the usual one when the usual one cannot be used.
置換chikan: The replacement of one element with another within a system, structure, or arrangement.

Definition in Japanese

元の物や方法の代わりに、同じ役割を果たす別の物や方法を用いること。moto no mono ya hō hō no ka wa ri ni ona ji yaku wari o ha ta su betsu no mono ya hō hō o mochi i ru ko to

Word origin

代替 (daitai) combines 代 (dai, "substitution") and 替 (tai, "replacement"), expressing the act of replacing one thing with another.

Usage tips

  • The noun 代替 (daitai) often appears in compounds such as 代替品 (daitaihin), meaning a replacement product, rather than naming the replacement item itself.

Related words

  • 代替性daitaiseisubstitutabilitynoun

Word lists with this word