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Formation: N + の代わりに; V-dictionary／V-た + 代わりに; い-adj + 代わりに; な-adj + な代わりに; N + の代わりの + N

This pattern has three main uses. It can mean substitution (instead of X, Y), exchange (in return for X, Y), or a trade-off (X has a downside, but Y makes up for it). The trade-off use links a drawback and an advantage, or the reverse, as in 狭い代わりに安い. It is neutral and common in both speech and writing. On its own, その代わり(に) works as a conjunction meaning 'in return' or 'but then again'. Compare 〜に代わって, which is more formal and is mainly used when someone stands in for another person or does something on their behalf (社長に代わってご挨拶します). の代わりに is the everyday, wider-ranging form.

Variants: の代わりに、代わりの、その代わり（に）

Examples

• 会議には部長の代わりに私が出席した。
  I attended the meeting in place of the department head.
• 英語を教えてもらう代わりに、日本語を教えている。
  In exchange for English lessons, I teach them Japanese.
• この町は不便な代わりに、自然が豊かだ。
  This town is inconvenient, but in return it has plenty of nature.

In real texts 0 occurrence(s)

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