身代わり・身代り・身替わり・身替り|みがわりmigawari[0]heiban (flat)

1. nounsubstitution (for someone else); substitute; stand-in; scapegoat; sacrifice
   その司祭しさいは病気びょうきの男おとこの身代みがわりになった。↗

   The priest took the sick man's place.

• Synonym代わりかわりNeutralThe broadest word for substitution or replacement. 「身代わり」 is a person (sometimes a doll) taking another's place, often to bear their misfortune or blame.
• Synonym代役だいやくNeutralPlaying a role in someone's place, as in 「急遽代役を務める」; centers on performances and official duties.
• SynonymピンチヒッターNeutralLoanword for a pinch hitter in baseball; by extension, anyone who steps in to save a critical situation.
• Synonym代替だいたいNeutralSubstituting one thing for another, as in 「代替エネルギー」; what gets replaced is usually a thing, not a person.
• SynonymスケープゴートNeutralLoanword for a scapegoat; stresses having others' resentment shifted onto you. Like 「身代わり」, it carries a sense of sacrifice.
• SynonymスタンドインNeutralLoanword for a stand-in who acts in an actor's place; also a ball hit into the outfield stands. Industry jargon.
• Related代理だいりNeutralHandling business on someone's behalf, as in 「部長代理」; centers on official duties and legal authority.
• Related代行だいこうNeutralCarrying out tasks on the person's behalf, as in 「職務代行」「運転代行」; 「身代わり」 stresses a person standing in for another.
• Related控えひかえNeutralA reserve or spare kept ready in case it is needed; also a stub or copy. Stresses readiness, not taking another's place.
• Related替え玉かえだまNeutralAn impostor standing in under a false identity, as in 「替え玉受験」; carries a sense of deception.
• Related補欠ほけつNeutralA substitute or alternate who fills a vacancy, such as a reserve player; stresses filling a missing spot.
• Related代人だいにんWrittenA proxy or deputy for the person concerned; written/formal prose, and not often used.
• Related代理人だいりにんNeutralA person entrusted to act on another's behalf; also means a lawyer. A legal term.
• Related吹き替えふきかえNeutralDubbing a film into another language; also an actor's stand-in, though that sense is rarer.
• Related代り役かわりやくNeutralA substitute actor or stand-in. Not much used; 「代役」 is the usual word.
• Related代理者だいりしゃWrittenOne who carries out another person's work or role; written/formal prose, and not often used.
• Related代員だいいんWrittenA person who handles business in someone else's place; written/formal prose, and not often used.
• Antonym本人ほんにんNeutralThe person themselves; the opposite of a 「身代わり」 who takes the blame in their place.
• Antonym当人とうにんNeutralThe person concerned; the opposite of 「身代わり」 as someone's stand-in.

Use 「身代わり」 for standing in for someone else, often to bear their misfortune or blame, as in 「身代わり出頭」 or 「身代わりになる」. For substitution in general say 「代わり」; for taking over a role in a performance say 「代役」; for acting on someone's behalf in a job or official capacity say 「代理」. The remaining words are narrower terms for particular fields or written style. The opposite is 「本人」.

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

1. 他人たにんの代かわりとなること。その人ひと。