How to say "representative" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 代表だいひょうnoun, suru verb, transitive verbA person, group, or delegation that represents others, such as a company representative or a country's delegates. This is the usual word when 'representative' is a noun for someone acting on behalf of a larger body.
- 総代そうだいnounThe single representative chosen to act for a whole group on a formal occasion, for instance presenting a group's greetings or receiving something on its behalf. Best for ceremonial or organizational contexts rather than general use.
- 代表的だいひょうてきna-adjectiveThe adjectival noun for 'representative' meaning exemplary or characteristic of a class — a representative work, figure, or example. This is the usual choice when the English word functions as an adjective meaning 'serving as a typical instance'.
- 名代みょうだいnounA proxy or someone standing in for another person, attending or acting in their place. Seldom the word you want for 'representative' in general; it is really about substitution, and appears mostly in formal set contexts.
- 典型的てんけいてきna-adjectiveThe adjectival noun for 'representative' in the sense of typical, archetypal, or quintessential — describing something that embodies the standard traits of its kind. Choose it over 代表的 when you mean 'typical' rather than 'exemplary'.
Use 代表 for a person or delegation acting for others, 総代 for a group's chosen representative, 名代 for a proxy or stand-in, and the adjectival nouns 代表的 or 典型的 for 'representative' meaning typical or characteristic.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 代表だいひょうrepresentation
- 総代そうだいrepresentative
- 代表的だいひょうてきrepresentative
- 名代みょうだいproxy
- 典型的てんけいてきtypical
- 代人だいにんsubstitute
- 代理人だいりにんproxy
- 代議員だいぎいんrepresentative
- 代表格だいひょうかくrepresentative
- 代表者だいひょうしゃrepresentative
- レプレゼンタティブrepresentative
- 出張員しゅっちょういんagent
- 系列的けいれつてきparadigmatic
- 下院議員かいんぎいんmember of the lower house
- 代理者だいりしゃproxy
- 代理だいりproxy
- 特派員とくはいんrepresentative
- 代名詞だいめいしsynonym
- ザquintessential
- 顔かおrepresentative
See also
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