Translation guide
How to express that one thing takes the place of another, temporarily or permanently, in Japanese.
To say that someone is filling in for another person, such as at work or in a role.
A common and versatile way to say 'substitute for (someone)'. The person being replaced is marked with の.
今日は田中さんの代わりをします。
I'm substituting for Mr. Tanaka today.
He substituted for me.
More formal, often used in business or official contexts. Implies acting on behalf of someone.
部長の代理で会議に出席します。
I will attend the meeting as a substitute for the department head.
Borrowed from baseball, used casually for stepping in at the last minute.
急に休んだ同僚のピンチヒッターをした。
I substituted for a colleague who suddenly took the day off.
To say that you are using a different item or ingredient because the original is unavailable.
The standard pattern for 'use A as a substitute for B'. The thing being replaced is marked with の代わりに.
バターの代わりにマーガリンを使った。
I used margarine as a substitute for butter.
牛乳の代わりに豆乳を使えますか？
Can I use soy milk as a substitute for milk?
A slightly more formal or technical way to say 'substitute with'. The substitute item is marked with で.
砂糖は蜂蜜で代用できる。
You can substitute honey for sugar.
Literally 'change A to B', used when swapping one thing for another. Less common for 'substitute' but possible.
小麦粉を米粉に替えてみた。
I tried substituting rice flour for wheat flour.
To say that someone or something has been replaced, often in a role or function.
Means 'to take the place of' or 'to supplant'. Often used when something new replaces something old.
新しい技術が古い方法に取って代わった。
New technology has substituted for the old methods.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to be replaced' or 'to change places'. Focuses on the swap itself.
Transitive verb meaning 'to replace' or 'to exchange'. Often used in set phrases.
To say that something functions as a substitute without specifying who does the substituting.
Means 'to serve as a substitute for'. The thing being replaced is marked with の.
このアプリは辞書の代わりになる。
This app can substitute for a dictionary.
Similar to 代わりになる but slightly more formal, often used for objects.
この布は革の代用になる。
This cloth can substitute for leather.
代わり (kawari) is the most general and common word for 'substitute'. 代理 (dairi) is specifically for representing a person in an official capacity. 代用 (daiyou) is for using one thing in place of another, often with a nuance of making do.
母の代わりに料理を作った。
I cooked in place of my mother.
社長の代理として挨拶した。
I gave a speech as a substitute for the company president.
醤油の代用に塩を使った。
I used salt as a substitute for soy sauce.
The English pattern 'A substitutes for B' is not directly translated with ために. Use 代わりをする or 代わりになる instead. 'ために' expresses purpose, not substitution.
メンバーが入れ替わった。
The members were substituted (for new ones).
Nothing can substitute for a life.