“Instead of” in Chinese – tì and dàitì

Grammar Point:
In Chinese grammar, 替 tì and 代替 dàitì are prepositions used to indicate substitution or acting on behalf of someone or something.

Structure

Noun/Pronoun + 替 tì + Noun/Pronoun + V

The nouns and pronouns here usually are human not objects.

他tā替tì我wǒ做zuò了le很hěn多duō工作gōngzuò他tā替tì我wǒ做zuò了le很hěn多duō工作gōngzuò
He did a lot of work for me. (substitution)

我wǒ替tì老闆lǎobǎn接jiē了le電話diànhuà我wǒ替tì老板lǎobǎn接jiē了le电话diànhuà
I answered the phone for the boss. (on behalf of)

他tā替tì我wǒ去qù了le會議huìyì他tā替tì我wǒ去qù了le会议huìyì
He went to the meeting for me. (in place of)

他們tāmen替tì孩子háizi們men準備zhǔnbèi了le很hěn多duō禮物lǐwù他们tāmen替tì孩子háizi们men准备zhǔnbèi了le很hěn多duō礼物lǐwù
They prepared many gifts for the children. (for the benefit of)

請qǐng你nǐ替tì我wǒ代班dàibān一天yìtiān请qǐng你nǐ替tì我wǒ代班dàibān一天yìtiān
Can you take my shift for a day?

他tā替tì我wǒ修xiū了le車chē， 我wǒ給gěi了le他tā一些yìxiē錢qián他tā替tì我wǒ修xiū了le车chē， 我wǒ给gěi了le他tā一些yìxiē钱qián
He fixed my car for me, and I gave him some money.

你nǐ可以kěyǐ請qǐng他tā替tì你nǐ簽字qiānzì你nǐ可以kěyǐ请qǐng他tā替tì你nǐ签字qiānzì
You can ask him to sign for you.

Noun + 代替 dàitì + Noun

The nouns here usually are objects not human.

你nǐ用yòng燕麥奶yànmàinǎi代替dàitì牛奶niúnǎi做zuò吧ba你nǐ用yòng燕麦奶yànmàinǎi代替dàitì牛奶niúnǎi做zuò吧ba
Could you please use oat milk instead of cow’s milk?

我wǒ可以kěyǐ用yòng這個zhège代替dàitì你的nǐde禮物lǐwù嗎ma？ 我wǒ可以kěyǐ用yòng这个zhège代替dàitì你的nǐde礼物lǐwù吗ma？
Can I use this as a substitute for your gift?

我wǒ用yòng茶chá代替dàitì酒jiǔ跟gēn你們nǐmen乾杯gānbēi我wǒ用yòng茶chá代替dàitì酒jiǔ跟gēn你们nǐmen干杯gānbēi
Let me raise my tea to toast with you instead of wine.

FYI
In China, there’s a tradition where people swap out alcohol for tea. Instead of toasting with wine or beer, we use tea. It’s called 以茶代酒 yǐ chá dài jiǔ. This tradition is about more than just a drink. It shows respect and is seen as a healthier choice. Imagine being at a party in China. Instead of clinking glasses of alcohol, you’d clink teacups filled with delicious tea. This tradition is all about balance and taking care of yourself. Tea is a big deal in China. It’s not just a drink; it’s part of our way of life. We have fancy tea ceremonies and art. For us, tea is a way to relax and enjoy life.

對duì孩子háizi來說láishuō是shì無人wúrén可kě代替dàitì父母fùmǔ的de重要性zhòngyàoxìng对duì孩子háizi来说láishuō是shì无人wúrén可kě代替dàitì父母fùmǔ的de重要性zhòngyàoxìng
The importance of parents is irreplaceable for children.

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

✔️ Please thank him for me.

請qǐng替tì我wǒ謝謝xièxie他tā请qǐng替tì我wǒ谢谢xièxie他tā

✔️ Can you buy some Korean instant noodles for me?

你nǐ能néng替tì我wǒ買mǎi一些yìxiē韓國hánguó泡麵pàomiàn回來huílái嗎ma？ 你nǐ能néng替tì我wǒ买mǎi一些yìxiē韩国hánguó方便面fāngbiànmiàn回来huílái吗ma？

✔️ Can I use a different fruit as a substitute if I don’t have strawberries?

如果rúguǒ我wǒ沒有méiyǒu草莓cǎoméi可以kěyǐ用yòng別的biéde水果shuǐguǒ代替dàitì嗎ma？ 如果rúguǒ我wǒ没有méiyǒu草莓cǎoméi可以kěyǐ用yòng别的biéde水果shuǐguǒ代替dàitì吗ma？