JLPT N3Everyday

かわりにinstead of; in return for

One thing stands in for another: soy milk for milk, you for your mother, an email for a phone call. It also marks a trade-off, where you get one thing and pay for it with another.

instead of

牛ぎゅう乳にゅうのかわりに豆とう乳にゅうを使つかった。

I used soy milk instead of milk.

in return for

私わたしが夕ゆう食しょくを作つくるかわりに、弟おとうとが皿さらを洗あらう。

I make dinner, and in return my little brother washes the dishes.

Instead of

Noun + の + かわりに／ verb dictionary form + かわりに

In return for

Plain form + かわりに

A な-adjective keeps な: 便べん利りなかわりに. Often written 代かわりに.

Before it: For "instead of", the one that isn't used or doesn't happen. For "in return for", one half of a deal.
On its own: With nothing before it, かわりに is "instead". そのかわり opens a sentence: "in return", "to make up for it".
Where you'll meet it: Everywhere. It is the everyday word.

In use

部ぶ長ちょうの代かわりに私わたしが会かい議ぎに出しゅっ席せきします。

I will attend the meeting in place of the department manager.

電でん話わするかわりに、メールを送おくった。

Instead of calling, I sent an email.

母ははが忙いそがしいので、私わたしがかわりに行いきます。

My mother is busy, so I'll go instead.

The trade-off

Here nothing is replaced. Both halves are true, and one makes up for the other: a high price for something that lasts, a favor for a favor.

この靴くつは高たかいかわりに、長なが持もちする。

These shoes are expensive, but in return they last a long time.

宿しゅく題だいを手て伝つだってあげるかわりに、昼ひるご飯はんをおごってよ。

I'll help you with your homework, so buy me lunch in return.

今日きょうは早はやく帰かえっていいよ。そのかわり、明日あしたは早はやく来きてね。

You can go home early today. In return, come in early tomorrow.

Close neighbours

に代わってN3

Formal, and only after a noun: someone or something takes over a role. It has no trade-off meaning.

社しゃ長ちょうに代かわって、副ふく社しゃ長ちょうが式しき典てんで挨あい拶さつした。

The vice president gave the address at the ceremony in place of the president.

ではなく・じゃなくてN4

"Not A but B". You are putting a fact right, and nothing stands in for anything.

会かい議ぎは月げつ曜よう日びじゃなくて、火か曜よう日びです。

The meeting is on Tuesday, not Monday.

ないでN4

Also "instead of", when the first thing is just skipped, not replaced.

弟おとうとは宿しゅく題だいをしないで、ゲームばかりしている。

My little brother does nothing but play games instead of doing his homework.

Check yourself

1Is this restaurant expensive?

この店みせは高たかいかわりに、量りょうが多おおい。

Choose an answer to see why.

2Which one fits?

車くるまを貸かしてあげる（　　）、ガソリン代だいは払はらってね。

Choose an answer to see why.

More detail

かわり is a noun too: a replacement, someone to fill in.

明日あしたのバイト、かわりの人ひとを探さがしています。

I'm looking for someone to cover my shift tomorrow.

More sentences

現げん金きんのかわりにカードで払はらいました。

I paid by card instead of cash.

車くるまで行いくかわりに、電でん車しゃを使つかった。

Instead of going by car, I took the train.

肉にくを使つかうかわりに、きのこをたくさん入いれた。

Instead of using meat, I put in plenty of mushrooms.

欠けっ席せきした同どう僚りょうのかわりに、私わたしが報ほう告こくを行おこなった。

I gave the report in place of a colleague who was absent.