交換
Meaning in Englishexchange, swap, replacement
Animated kanji stroke order
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Word context
What it means
What does 交換 mean? It denotes the act of exchanging one thing for another, or the state of being swapped, including trades, substitutions, and replacements in everyday and formal contexts. It covers exchanges of goods, services, currencies, or options within processes.
Main meanings
- exchange of goods or services between parties, i.e., trade
- substitution or replacement of one item with another, i.e., swap or interchange
- currency or financial asset exchange, i.e., foreign exchange
How to use it
Used as a noun denoting the act or process of exchanging, and in verb form as 交換する to describe the action of exchanging. It appears in formal writing, business contexts, and everyday speech, including phrases like 商品の交換 and 為替の交換, as well as discussions of substitutions and replacements in logistics or planning.
Variants and close terms
- 取り替え (torikae) — replacement or swap
- 入れ替え (irekae) — swapping; replacement
- 互換 (gokan) — compatibility, interchangeability
- 固定 (kotei) — fixed, not exchanged (antonym)
Composition
- 交: cross, intersect; to mingle, exchange between people
- 換: change, substitute; to exchange or swap
Etymology
kanji origin 交換 is a native Japanese compound formed from 交 (kō, cross/interact) and 換 (kan, change/exchange); together they convey the idea of exchanging by crossing or interchanging elements, a typical on'yomi-based compound reading.
Origin
The concept of exchange in Japanese society emerged in classical periods with trade and barter, and expanded with urban markets and later modern commerce during the Edo period and beyond.
Word class
Noun (名詞)