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.
Let's swap stickers.
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.
I swapped the batteries.
Loanword from English 'trade', used in sports, card games, or informal contexts among young people.
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.
Let's swap driving (take turns driving).
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.
To express replacing one item with another, like swapping a broken part or exchanging a purchase.
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.
I swapped jobs with him.
The players swapped (were substituted).
I need to swap the light bulb.