Word
交替
Meaning in Englishchange, relief, alteration
Animated kanji stroke order
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)