Translation guide
The concept of two or more things taking turns or switching back and forth. In Japanese, this is expressed through specific nouns, verbs, and grammatical patterns depending on whether the alternation is regular, irregular, or involves actions.
Expressing that two or more people or things alternate in a regular, repeated pattern.
The two sang in alternation.
Let's take turns driving.
An adverb meaning 'alternately' or 'by turns', emphasizing the act of switching.
They spoke in alternation.
Means 'in turn' or 'in order', often used when people take turns doing something.
Please introduce yourselves in turn.
Describing a situation where something switches back and forth between two conditions or activities.
A verb pattern meaning 'do things like A and B', often implying alternation or repeated switching between actions.
She alternated between crying and laughing.
He's going back and forth.
A noun meaning 'alternation' or 'shift', often used for work shifts or changing of personnel.
Describing a regular alternation in a series, such as alternating colors or numbers.
交互 (こうご) emphasizes the mutual, back-and-forth nature of alternation, while 交替 (こうたい) often implies a shift or replacement, such as in work schedules. 交互 is more common for taking turns.
sing in alternation
work in shifts
昼夜交替で働く。
Work in day and night shifts.
Means 'alternate' or 'staggered', often used for physical arrangement.
Arrange them alternately.
交互に色を変える。
Alternate the colors.