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交代 (こうたい) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N2 Freq. Frequency Top 5,000 Conjugation Meanings 1
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', transitive verb, intransitive verb
change ; alternation ; rotation ; replacement ; substitution ; shift ; relief ; taking turns
Broadly covers any situation where one person or thing takes over from another, whether scheduled (shift change, player substitution) or unscheduled (replacement, relief). Can be used as a noun or with する as a transitive/intransitive verb.
きん
と
日にっ
勤きん
の
交こう
代たい
は
午ご
前ぜん
8
時じ
です
。
The shift change between night and day duty is at 8 a.m.
Written forms 交代 Usage 72% i Usage for this spelling across all readings, not one reading alone.
交替 Usage 28% i Usage for this spelling across all readings, not one reading alone.
こうたい
Often used for regular, scheduled rotation or replacement, especially in work shifts or sports. Interchangeable with 交代 in many contexts, but 交替 may emphasize a systematic swap.
こうだい
Kanji 交 mingle, mixing, association 代 substitute, change, convert 替 exchange, spare, substitute Similar words 変へん 更こう 変更 means a change or modification to something (e.g., a plan, schedule, or rule), while 交代 focuses on swapping people or roles.
交こう 換かん 交換 means exchanging one item for another (e.g., gifts, money, information), whereas 交代 is about people or roles taking turns.
代か わる 代わる is the intransitive verb 'to take the place of' or 'to substitute for,' often used in the same contexts as 交代する but more colloquial.
Etymology 交代 is a Sino-Japanese compound of 交 (exchange, mix) and 代 (replace, substitute). 交替 uses 替 (replace, exchange) instead of 代, giving a similar meaning. The reading こうだい is obsolete.
