Chinese word

代

Pronunciation

Pinyindài

Meaning

  • verbact on behalf of

Example

我可以代你去开会吗？wǒ ké yǐ dài nǐ qù kāi huì ma

Can I go to the meeting for you?

Illustration for 代 (act on behalf of)

More examples

他临时有事，让我代他签合同。tā lín shí yǒu shì ràng wǒ dài tā qiān hé tóng

He had something come up, so I signed the contract on his behalf.

Core concept

A stand-in takes over the position or function that normally belongs to someone or something else.

Common phrases

  • 代写信dài xiě xìn

    write a letter on someone's behalf

  • 代签字dài qiān zì

    sign on someone's behalf

  • 代领快递dài lǐng kuài dì

    pick up a delivery on someone's behalf

Similar words

代替dài tì: Replace a person or thing so that the replacement takes over its role or function.
替tì: Perform someone's work or duty in their place.
换huàn: Exchange an object, tool, or position for a different one.

Definition in Chinese

用另一个人或事物替换原有的人或物，承担其位置或功能，起替代作用。yòng lìng yí gè rén huò shì wù tì huàn yuán yǒu de rén huò wù chéng dān qí wèi zhì huò gōng néng qǐ tì dài zuò yòng

Word origin

代 (dài, "replace or act on behalf of") is a phonetic-semantic character: 亻 (rén, "person") suggests a role-holder, while 弋 (yì, "ancient weapon") supplies the sound.

Usage tips

  • The surrounding noun shows whether the word concerns a person covering a duty or an object taking another object's place, so context resolves the type of substitution.

Other meanings

  • replaceverb

Related words

Word lists with this word