Usage note
代表示替换，也可表示时代、辈分。
dài biǎo shì tì huàn， yě kě biǎo shì shí dài 、 bèi fēn。
代 means to replace, or a generation/era.
Context note
代常用于时间、家族和替代。
dài cháng yòng yú shí jiān 、 jiā zú hé tì dài。
It is often used with time, family, and substitution.
5 examples
请代我问好。
qǐng dài wǒ wèn hǎo。
Please send my regards.
这是一代人。
zhè shì yí dài rén。
This is a generation of people.
他代替我去。
tā dài tì wǒ qù。
He goes instead of me.
新一代产品。
xīn yí dài chǎn pǐn。
A new generation of products.
代办事情很方便。
dài bàn shì qíng hěn fāng biàn。
Running errands for others is very convenient.
5 mini stories
老师让班长代收作业。
lǎo shī ràng bān zhǎng dài shōu zuò yè。
The teacher asked the class monitor to collect homework on behalf of others.
这一代孩子很幸福。
zhè yí dài hái zi hěn xìng fú。
This generation of children is very fortunate.
她代妈妈去买菜。
tā dài mā ma qù mǎi cài。
She went to buy groceries for Mom.
代替别人做事时，要认真。
dài tì bié rén zuò shì shí， yào rèn zhēn。
When doing things for others, you should be serious.
新一代更喜欢用手机。
xīn yí dài gèng xǐ huan yòng shǒu jī。
The new generation likes using phones more.
Mini dialogue
家庭照片
A
这张照片里是谁？
Zhè zhāng zhàopiàn lǐ shì shéi?
Who is in this photo?
B
这是我爷爷，我们这一代很少见到这样的老照片。
Zhè shì wǒ yéye, wǒmen zhè yī dài hěn shǎo jiàndào zhèyàng de lǎo zhàopiàn.
This is my grandpa. Our generation rarely sees old photos like this.
听故事
A
奶奶，您小时候有手机吗？
Nǎinai, nín xiǎoshíhòu yǒu shǒujī ma?
Grandma, did you have a mobile phone when you were little?
B
没有，我们那一代连电视都很少。
Méiyǒu, wǒmen nà yī dài lián diànshì dōu hěn shǎo.
No, our generation rarely even had a TV.
Related words and contrasts
similar
辈
bèi
generation (in a family)
Often used together as 辈代 or 代辈 in some contexts, but 辈 is more about seniority in family.
related
时代
shídài
era; age
Refers to a period of time, while 代 refers to a generation of people.