Definitions
(verb)
to substitute for; to replace; to take the place of
(preposition)
on behalf of; for
About
The character 替, whose traditional form remains structurally identical, is composed of two components that visually and conceptually illustrate its core meaning of substitution or replacement. It originally depicted two men standing side by side, derived from two instances of the character 立 (to stand) over the character 曰 (to say), forming an early idea of one figure taking the place of another. Over time, its application broadened significantly from this concrete notion of one person physically replacing another to encompass more abstract and general acts of taking over, acting on behalf of, or being exchanged for something else. This semantic expansion allowed 替 to function not only as a verb meaning "to substitute" but also as a preposition meaning "for" or "on behalf of", and even as an adverb conveying a sense of decline, as in something being "in replacement" or rendered obsolete.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我替妈妈做饭。
他替朋友值班。
请你替我保管这个。
我们需要找人代替他。
他因病不能来，所以我替他发言。
在电影中，替身演员完成了危险的动作。
为了环保，我们应该用可再生能源替代化石燃料。
尽管他试图替自己辩解，但证据确凿，无法开脱。