N3 Casual, Colloquial, and Alternative Forms

~にかわって/〜にかわり: meaning, usage and examples

~にかわって/〜にかわり means: instead of... / in place of... (formal).

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. 人間にんげんにかわってロボットが作業さぎょうをしている。

   Robots are doing the work instead of humans.

2. 社長しゃちょうにかわり、私わたしがご挨拶あいさついたします。

   I will give a greeting in place of the company president.

3. 病気びょうきの先生せんせいにかわって、校長こうちょう先生せんせいが授業じゅぎょうをしました。

   The principal taught the class in place of the sick teacher.

4. 最近さいきんは、最近さいきんは、現金げんきんにかわってスマホ決済けっさいが広ひろまっています。

   These days, many people pay with their phones instead of cash.

When to use it

にかわって means "in place of" or "on behalf of". Use it when a person stands in for someone else, often in a formal role (部長ぶちょうにかわって説明せつめいする), or when something new replaces something old (手紙てがみにかわってメールが使つかわれるようになった). にかわり is the more formal, written version. It is also written 代かわって.

Nuance

Formal; common in speeches, announcements, the news, and business. にかわり sounds stiffer and suits written text or ceremonies. It usually describes a role or position being taken over, or a big change in society, not a simple swap of objects like drinks.

Compare

にかわって vs のかわりに: both can mean "in place of", but のかわりに is everyday and also means "in exchange" (コーヒーのかわりにお茶ちゃ). にかわって stresses that someone took over a role and fits formal speech (父ちちにかわってお礼れいを申もうし上あげます). Do not use にかわって for simple swaps of things.

Tip: Listen for it in announcements: 担当たんとう者しゃにかわって... means someone is speaking for the person in charge.