Translation guide
How to express the idea of exchanging or trading things in Japanese, from casual swaps to formal exchanges.
To express swapping or trading items informally, like trading stickers, swapping seats, or exchanging contact info.
The most common and versatile word for exchanging or swapping things. Can be used as a noun or with する to make it a verb.
シールを交換しよう。
Let's swap stickers.
席を交換してもいいですか？
Would you mind swapping seats?
Literally 'take and replace', used for swapping one thing for another, often with a sense of replacement. Slightly more physical than 交換.
電池を取り替えた。
I swapped the batteries.
Loanword from English 'trade', used in sports, card games, or informal contexts among young people.
カードをトレードしない？
Wanna trade cards?
To express swapping roles, positions, or turns, like swapping jobs, swapping partners in a game, or taking turns.
Used for swapping shifts, turns, or roles. Often implies a scheduled or organized change.
運転を交代しよう。
Let's swap driving (take turns driving).
彼と仕事を交代した。
I swapped jobs with him.
To swap places or positions, often with a sense of one replacing the other. Intransitive; the transitive form is 入れ替える.
To express exchanging stories, gossip, or information.
Standard phrase for exchanging information. Can be used with する.
情報交換をしましょう。
Let's swap information.
Literally 'do talk', used when swapping stories or having a chat. More casual.
旅の話をしよう。
Let's swap travel stories.
To express replacing one item with another, like swapping a broken part or exchanging a purchase.
Also used for exchanges in stores or replacing defective items.
不良品を交換してもらえますか？
Can I get this defective item swapped?
Emphasizes the physical act of removing and replacing.
交換 (こうかん) is for swapping objects or abstract things (contact info, ideas). 交代 (こうたい) is for swapping people in roles, shifts, or turns. Don't use 交代 for trading items.
The loanword スワップ exists but is mainly used in technical contexts (finance, computing). For everyday swapping, use 交換 or other native words.
選手が入れ替わった。
The players swapped (were substituted).
電球を取り替える必要がある。
I need to swap the light bulb.