instead of ~

Beginner

15-20 min

common

Expert Reviewed

Explanation

Indicates substitution or exchange.

[Verb/い-adj/な-adj/Noun + の] + 代わりに

バスの代わりに、電車で行きます。

Basu no kawari ni, densha de ikimasu.

I will go by train instead of bus.

彼が行く代わりに、私が行った。

Kare ga iku kawari ni, watashi ga itta.

I went instead of him going.

Can also mean "in exchange for" or "in return for".

～てもいいです

may do ~, it's okay to do ~

～てはいけません

must not do ~, not allowed to do ~

～なければなりません

must do ~, have to do ~

～なくてもいいです

don't have to do ~, don't need to do ~

Useful for expressing alternatives.

JLPTBooks Editorial Team

Japanese Language Education Specialists

Last updated: Jan 2

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