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代替 (dài tì) — to replace, to take the place of

Definition

代替 (dài tì) is a general 'replace / take the place of' verb for both people and things, and can also be used like 替 to mean 'on behalf of' (我代替他去开会). 更换 focuses on swapping a worn or broken item; 取代 implies superseding.

verb
to replaceto take the place of

Examples

  • 代替。
    Wǒ yòng xīn shǒu jī dài tì le jiù shǒu jī.
    I replaced the old phone with a new one.
  • 代替。
    Míng tiān wǒ dài tì tā qù kāi huì.
    Tomorrow I'll go to the meeting in his place.
  • 代替。
    Yòng zhǐ dài dài tì sù liào dài gèng huán bǎo.
    Using paper bags instead of plastic bags is more environmentally friendly.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

代dàisubstitute
替tìsubstitute

代 and 替 both mean substitute, so together they mean to replace.

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.

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.

Open 代 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

替 combines 竝, two figures side by side, with 曰; the picture shows those figures changing places.

Open 替 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5HSK 2.0 Level 45000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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