Usage note
代替表示用一个人或物顶替另一个。
dài tì biǎo shì yòng yí gè rén huò wù dǐng tì lìng yí gè。
代替 means to take the place of someone or something.
Context note
代替常用于工作、位置和功能。
dài tì cháng yòng yú gōng zuò 、 wèi zhì hé gōng néng。
It is often used with work, positions, and functions.
5 examples
他代替我去。
tā dài tì wǒ qù。
He goes instead of me.
机器代替了人。
jī qì dài tì le rén。
Machines have replaced people.
谁可以代替老师？
shuí kě yǐ dài tì lǎo shī？
Who can replace the teacher?
请代替我签字。
qǐng dài tì wǒ qiān zì。
Please sign on my behalf.
这个方法代替不了努力。
zhè ge fāng fǎ dài tì bù liǎo nǔ lì。
This method cannot replace effort.
5 mini stories
老师生病了，别人代替她上课。
lǎo shī shēng bìng le， bié rén dài tì tā shàng kè。
The teacher was sick, so someone else taught the class in her place.
他请朋友代替自己去开会。
tā qǐng péng yǒu dài tì zì jǐ qù kāi huì。
He asked a friend to attend the meeting on his behalf.
没有什么能真正代替家人的陪伴。
méi yǒu shén me néng zhēn zhèng dài tì jiā rén de péi bàn。
Nothing can truly replace family companionship.
这个工具可以代替手工。
zhè ge gōng jù kě yǐ dài tì shǒu gōng。
This tool can replace manual work.
她代替妈妈去买菜。
tā dài tì mā ma qù mǎi cài。
She went to buy groceries in place of Mom.
Mini dialogue
借文具
A
我的笔没水了，可以用铅笔代替吗？
Wǒ de bǐ méi shuǐ le, kěyǐ yòng qiānbǐ dàitì ma?
My pen ran out of ink. Can I use a pencil instead?
B
可以，铅笔也能写字。
Kěyǐ, qiānbǐ yě néng xiězì.
Yes, a pencil can also write.
帮忙值日
A
今天小明生病了，我来代替他做值日。
Jīntiān Xiǎo Míng shēngbìng le, wǒ lái dàitì tā zuò zhírì.
Xiao Ming is sick today. I'll replace him for the cleaning duty.
B
好的，谢谢你帮忙。
Hǎo de, xièxie nǐ bāngmáng.
Okay, thank you for helping.
Related words and contrasts
contrast
代表
dàibiǎo
to represent
代替 means to replace; 代表 means to represent on behalf of someone.
related
交换
jiāohuàn
to exchange; swap
交换 is a two-way swap, while 代替 is a one-way replacement.