How to say "alternately" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 代わる代わるかわるがわるadverbCovers the core sense of 'alternately; by turns', typically for people or things doing something one after another. It is the common, dependable choice when you want to say that two or more parties alternate in an action.
- adverbMeans 'alternately; in succession', but it is a less common word, normally written in kana alone. It has a literary flavor, so learners will mostly encounter it in reading rather than need it for everyday speech.
- 代わり代わりかわりがわりadverbGlossed 'alternately; in turn; one after the other', this variant conveys much the same alternation as 代わる代わる. It is less common, however, so it is worth recognizing more than producing.
- 一つ置きにひとつおきにadverbThis one is really 'every other one' — skipping one item each time, as in selecting alternate items — rather than parties taking turns at an activity. It suits 'alternately' only in that spacing sense.彼らはひとつおきに席に着いた。↗They sat down at every other desk.
- 交代でこうたいでexpressionMeans 'alternately; by turns' for people taking turns doing something, such as working in shifts or relieving each other. Slightly less common than 代わる代わる, it emphasizes turn-taking among people.
For people or things taking turns, use 「代わる代わる」 or 「交代で」; 「一つ置きに」 means every other one; 「こもごも」 and 「代わり代わり」 are less common alternatives best recognized rather than actively used.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
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