Practice JLPTHow to tell them apart
代わりに is broader and covers simple substitution (ビールのかわりに酒を買う) as well as compensation or contrast (安かったかわりによく故障した). に代わって is more formal and tends to describe a regular person or thing being replaced by someone or something in an ongoing or official capacity, such as a format replacing another or speaking on behalf of a group. Swapping them sounds unnatural when 代わりに is used for a formal on-behalf-of role or when に代わって is used for casual personal substitution.
- 代わりに・かわりに Use 代わりに for everyday substitution, compensation, or contrast between two things or actions.
- に代わって Use に代わって when something or someone officially replaces a regular person or thing, including on-behalf-of roles.
| Grammar point | Meaning | JLPT level |
|---|---|---|
| 代わりに・かわりに warini kawarini | Instead of / in place of | N4 |
| に代わって ni watte | In place of / on behalf of | N3 |
代わりに・かわりに warini kawarini
Instead of / in place of
In place of ~; instead of; to make up for ~; although; but | Something (including an action) replaces something else.
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その車は安かったかわりによく 故障した。
That car was inexpensive, but it often broke down.
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ビールのかわりに酒を買いました。
I bought sake instead of beer.
に代わって ni watte
In place of / on behalf of
In place of; replacing; on behalf of | A compound particle to express replacement or substitution of a regular person/thing by someone/something.
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レコードに代わってCDが出て、音質がとてもよくなった。
In place of records, CDs have become available, and the sound quality has improved a great deal.
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御出席の皆様に代わりまして、一言ご挨拶を述べさせていただきます。
On behalf of everyone present here, let me say a word of greeting.
代わりに・かわりに and に代わって are JLPT N4–N3 grammar points that Japanese learners often mix up. This page compares them side by side — meanings, usage and example sentences — so you can tell them apart.