代かわる代がわる

か

わ

る

が

わ

る

Common wordJLPTN1

Meanings

1

adverb

alternately; by turns; taking turns

Describes multiple people doing something in rotation, one after another. Often used with verbs like する, 行く, or 話す.

三さん人にんの子こ供どもが代かわる代がわるピアノを弾ひいた。
The three children took turns playing the piano.

会かい

議ぎ

で

は

、

参さん

加か

者しゃ

が

代か

わる

代が

わる

意い

見けん

を

述の

べ

た

。

At the meeting, the participants expressed their opinions by turns.

Written forms

代かわる代がわるUsage38%
Standard kanji spelling; the repetition of 代わる emphasizes the alternating nature.
かわるがわるUsage56%
Kana spelling is common in informal writing and when the kanji repetition feels heavy.
代かわる代がわるUsage6%
Abbreviated kanji form; less common but recognized.

Kanji

代substitute, change, convert

Similar words

順じゅん番ばんに
順番に means 'in order' or 'one by one' according to a sequence, while 代わる代わる emphasizes the act of alternating or swapping roles, often with a sense of mutual exchange.
交こう互ごに
交互に also means 'alternately' but is more formal and often used for two things alternating in a regular pattern. 代わる代わる is more colloquial and can involve more than two participants.

Etymology

Reduplication of the verb 代わる (かわる, 'to take the place of, to be substituted'). The repetition creates an adverbial phrase meaning 'alternating, taking turns'.