Word
交替
Meaning in Englishchange, relief, alteration
Animated kanji stroke order
Sentence
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Word context
What it means
交替 means alternation or substitution, referring to a planned swap where one person or thing takes over from another in a sequence or over time. It captures the concept of taking turns or replacing duties, rather than a one-time change.
Main meanings
- Alternation or rotation of duties, typically in work schedules, teams, or responsibilities
- Substitution or replacement of a person, object, or process when the usual one is unavailable
- Switching states in a mechanism or system to maintain continuity and efficiency
How to use it
Used mainly in formal and organizational contexts to describe a scheduled handover of duties, shifts, or roles. Common in corporate HR, operations, and public settings; in sports it appears in contexts of substitutions, though 交代 tends to be more common; typical phrases include 交替で and 交替制.
Variants and close terms
- 代替 (daitai) — substitution
- 交替制 (koutai-sei) — system of alternating duties
- 交替勤務 (koutai kinmu) — shift-based work arrangement
Composition
- 交: exchange, crossing
- 替: substitute, replacement
- Together they convey the idea of exchanging or taking turns in duties or roles
Word class
Noun (suru-verb)
Word
Related words by kanji and components
N1
交える
majieru
to mix, to converse with, to cross (swords)
N1
交わる
majiwaru
to cross, to intersect, to mingle with,
N2
為替
kawase
money order, exchange
N2
着替え
kigae
changing clothes, change of clothes
N2
着替える
kigaeru
to change (one's) clothes
N2
交差
kousa
cross
N2
交代
koutai
alternation, change, relief, relay, shift, substitution (sports, etc.), taking turns
N2
交通機関
koutsuukikan
transportation facilities
N2
交流
kouryuu
exchange; alternating current
Kanji