代用 (dài yòng) — to substitute; to use as a replacement

Definition

Formal verb meaning 'to substitute / use as a replacement' (e.g. 用塑料代用金属). Suggests an official or technical swap, more formal than the everyday 换.

verb

to substituteto use as a replacement

代用。
Zhè ge gōng chǎng yòng sù liào dài yòng jīn shǔ.
This factory uses plastic as a substitute for metal.
，代用。
Yóu yú quē shǎo yuán cái liào, wǒ men bù dé bù zhǎo dài yòng pǐn.
Because of a shortage of raw materials, we had to find substitutes.
代用。
Zhè zhǒng dài yòng fāng àn xiào guǒ bú cuò.
This alternative solution works quite well.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

代dàisubstitute

代 means substitute, and 用 means use, so it is using something as a replacement.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

亻弋代

Meaning part形符xíngfú

亻Written in full as人rénperson

Sound part声符shēngfú

弋

弋yì代dài

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 代, 亻 shows a person, and 弋 gives the sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

用 was formed by adding a handle to an earlier form.