How to say "alternate" in Japanese

• 交互こうごJLPT N1approx.Common
  no-adjective, suru verbThe word for 'alternate' meaning 'by turns': two actions or states occurring in turn, one after the other. It describes the alternation itself, not a substitute person.
  好況こうきょうと不況ふきょうは交互こうごに来くる。↗

  Good times alternate with bad.
• 互い違いたがいちがいCommon
  na-adjective, nounAnother word for alternation, close in meaning to 交互. It often suggests a staggered arrangement in which two sets of things alternate, each offset against the other.
  昼ひると夜よるは互い違たがいちがいにやってくる。↗

  Day and night come alternately.
• 代理人だいりにんCommon
  nounCovers 'alternate' only in the person sense: someone who acts or speaks on another's behalf, such as an agent, proxy, or deputy. It is not the word for the 'by turns' sense.
  すぐにあなたの代理人だいりにんに連絡れんらくを取とりなさい。↗

  Get in touch with your agent right away.
• 代わりかわりJLPT N4approx.Common
  no-adjectiveA stand-in or substitute: a person or thing that takes another's place. For people it overlaps with 代理人, but the emphasis is on taking the place rather than acting as someone's agent.
• 補欠ほけつCommon
  nounThe word for 'alternate' meaning a reserve member: a spare who fills a vacancy when a regular is unavailable, as on a team or committee. It is not used for the 'by turns' sense.

For the 'by turns' sense use 交互 or 「互い違い」; for a person standing in for another use 代理人 or 「代わり」; for a reserve who fills a vacancy use 補欠.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 交互こうごalternate
• 互い違いたがいちがいalternate
• 代理人だいりにんproxy
• オルタネイトalternate
• 立ち替わるたちかわるto alternate
• 一つ置きひとつおきalternate
• 互い違いにたがいちがいにalternate
• 隔かくevery other
• 代理者だいりしゃproxy
• 代わりかわりstand-in
• 補欠ほけつsubstitute