替わる・代わる・換わる・替る・代る・換る|かわるkawaru[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N2approx.Common
Which spelling to use
替わる替わる(かわる) is the most common of these spellings. It uses mixed kanji and kana.
代わる代わる(かわる) is the second most common spelling and the recommended default for beginners. It uses mixed kanji and kana.
換わる換わる(かわる) is less common than 替わる(かわる) and 代わる(かわる). It uses mixed kanji and kana.
替る替る(かわる) is less common than the three spellings above. It uses mixed kanji and kana.
代る代る(かわる) is less common than the four spellings above. It uses mixed kanji and kana.
換る換る(かわる) is the least common of these spellings. It uses mixed kanji and kana.
Definitions
  1. godan verb, intransitive verbto succeed; to relieve; to replaceesp. 替わる, 替る
    その会社かいしゃは、経営者けいえいしゃが3回かい替かわっている。↗
    The company has changed hands three times.
  2. godan verb, intransitive verbto take the place of; to substitute for; to take over for; to represent; to hand over (telephone)esp. 代わる, 代る
    ジムは、ベティーにかわって手紙てがみを書かいた。↗
    Jim wrote the letter for Betty.
  3. godan verb, intransitive verbto be exchanged; to change (places with); to switchesp. 換わる, 換る
Conjugation
Dictionary form替わる(かわる)
Polite (masu)替わります(かわります)
Negative (nai)替わらない(かわらない)
polite (masen)替わりません(かわりません)
classical zu / nu替わらず・替わらぬ(かわらず・かわらぬ)
Past (ta)替わった(かわった)
polite (mashita)替わりました(かわりました)
Past negative (nakatta)替わらなかった(かわらなかった)
polite (masen deshita)替わりませんでした(かわりませんでした)
Te form替わって(かわって)
Potential替われる(かわれる)
Passive替わられる(かわられる)
Causative替わらせる(かわらせる)
Causative passive替わらせられる・替わらされる(かわらせられる・かわらされる)
Conditional (ba)替われば(かわれば)
tara替わったら(かわったら)
Volitional替わろう(かわろう)
polite (mashou)替わりましょう(かわりましょう)
Imperative替われ(かわれ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym代わりになるかわりになるNeutralA phrase for something serving as a stand-in, stressing functional substitution; 「替わる」 is about people or things being rotated or swapped.
  • Related代理だいりNeutralA noun for acting on another's behalf with their authority, as in 「私が代理します」「部長代理」; leans formal.

Use 「替わる」 for taking turns, succeeding or swapping people, as in 「担当が替わる」. Use 「代わりになる」 when something can serve as a substitute; use 「代理」 for formally covering someone's duties.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 同おなじ役割やくわりを違ちがう者ものが担になう。身代みがわりになる。
  2. 入れ替いれかわる。交替こうたいする。
  3. あるものが、等価とうか値ちあるいは同おなじ内容ないようをもつ別べつのものにおきかわる。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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