Instead of, in exchange: 〜かわりに
Verb (plain form) / Noun + の + かわりに
Noun + の / verb / adjective + かわりに: instead of (replacement), in return for (exchange), but on the other hand (trade-off). With a noun only, にかわって is the polite variant.
In short
〜かわりに has three uses. Replacement: “instead of” (母のかわりに私が行く). Exchange: “in return for” (手伝うかわりに、ご飯をおごって). Trade-off: “but on the other hand” (給料が高いかわりに忙しい). After a noun, you need の.
- 母のかわりに、私が買い物に行った。ははのかわりに、わたしがかいものにいった。I went shopping instead of my mother.
- 宿題を手伝うかわりに、昼ご飯をおごってね。しゅくだいをてつだうかわりに、ひるごはんをおごってね。I'll help with your homework, but in return you buy me lunch.
- この仕事は給料が高いかわりに、とても忙しい。このしごとはきゅうりょうがたかいかわりに、とてもいそがしい。This job pays well, but on the other hand it's very demanding.
- バターのかわりに、オリーブオイルを使った。ばたーのかわりに、おりーぶおいるをつかった。I used olive oil instead of butter.
The basics
かわり (代わり) means “replacement, substitute”. 〜かわりに therefore means first of all “instead of”. Two other uses grow out of that: exchange (I do this, and in return you do that) and trade-off (there's an advantage, but to make up for it a drawback, or vice versa).
The context tells you which of the three meanings is intended.
I'll help with your homework, but in return you buy me lunch.
- noun
- verb
- grammatical form
- 日本語を教えるかわりに、フランス語を教えてもらっている。にほんごをおしえるかわりに、ふらんすごをおしえてもらっている。I teach Japanese, and in exchange someone teaches me French.
- この部屋は狭いかわりに、駅から近い。このへやはせまいかわりに、えきからちかい。This flat is small, but on the other hand it's close to the station.
How to form it
かわり is a noun: after a noun, you need の; after a verb or an い-adjective, the plain form is enough; a な-adjective takes な. At the start of a sentence, その（かわりに） means “in return, on the other hand”.
| Before かわりに | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| noun | Noun + の | 母のかわりに |
| verb | plain form | 手伝うかわりに |
| い-adjective | plain form | 高いかわりに |
| な-adjective | 〜な | 不便なかわりに |
| start of sentence | そのかわり（に） | そのかわり、明日は早く来て |
- 今日は早く帰っていいよ。そのかわり、明日は早く来てね。きょうははやくかえっていいよ。そのかわり、あしたははやくきてね。You can go home early today. In return, come in early tomorrow.
The three meanings
Replacement: one person or thing takes another's place. Exchange: one favour for another. Trade-off: an advantage balanced by a drawback (or vice versa).
| Meaning | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| replacement | 母のかわりに行く | to go instead of my mother |
| exchange | 手伝うかわりに、おごって | I'll help; in return, you treat me |
| trade-off | 高いかわりに、おいしい | it's expensive, but on the other hand it's good |
- 電車のかわりに、バスで行きましょう。でんしゃのかわりに、ばすでいきましょう。Let's go by bus instead of by train.
かわりに or にかわって?
For replacement, Noun + のかわりに and Noun + にかわって (seen earlier) mean almost the same; のかわりに is more common in speech, にかわって more polite or more written. But only かわりに can follow a verb or an adjective, and so express exchange or a trade-off.
| Form | After | Possible meanings |
|---|---|---|
| のかわりに | noun + の | replacement |
| かわりに | verb, adjective | exchange, trade-off |
| にかわって | nouns only | replacement (polite, written) |
- 部長にかわって、私がご挨拶します。ぶちょうにかわって、わたしがごあいさつします。I'll say a few words on behalf of the director.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting の after a noun: “母かわりに” is wrong; say 母のかわりに.
- Mixing up かわり (代わり, replacement) and かわる meaning “to change” (変わる): 予定が変わる = the plan changes.
- Using にかわって for an exchange: “手伝うにかわって” is wrong; with a verb, it's かわりに.
7 exercises on this point
Particles to choose, sentences to put back in order, translations: marked straight away, then reviewed at the right time. This JLPT N3 point is on the Biwako Line (Work and the economy) of the Kyoto lines.