替 meaning and stroke order
To substitute for; to take the place of; to replace
How to write 替, stroke by stroke
12 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 替
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to substitute for
- to take the place of
- to replace
- for
- on behalf of
- to stand in for
How 替 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. One man 夫 replacing another; 日 provides the pronunciation.
Radical: 曰 (to speak), shared by 14 characters on this site.
How to remember 替
Two men 夫 stand side by side above the sun 日, as if one is stepping in to take the other's place. Think of a shift change: one worker 夫 replaces another 夫 under the same sun.
替 (tì) means to replace someone, and it is very often used as a preposition meaning "for" or "on behalf of" before a verb. Example: 我替你去吧。(Wǒ tì nǐ qù ba.) Let me go for you.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 替 with 赞 (zàn, to praise), whose top also has two similar parts. The tops are different: 替 has two 夫 over 日, while 赞 has two 先 over 贝. Also keep the fourth tone, tì, not tí.
Common words with 替
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 代替 | dàitì | to replace; to take the place of | HSK 4 |
| 替代 | tìdài | to substitute for; to replace | HSK 4 |
| 接替 | jiētì | to replace; to take over (a position or post) | HSK 7-9 |
| 替身 | tìshēn | stand-in; substitute; (cinema) body double; stunt double | HSK 7-9 |
| 替换 | tìhuàn | to exchange; to replace; to substitute for; to switch | HSK 7-9 |
| 交替 | jiāotì | to replace; alternately; in turn | HSK 7-9 |
| 替罪羊 | tìzuìyáng | scapegoat | |
| 替补 | tìbǔ | to replace (a damaged component with a new one, an injured player with a substitute player | |
| 顶替 | dǐngtì | to replace | |
| 替代品 | tìdàipǐn | substitute; alternative | |
| 替天行道 | tìtiānxíngdào | (idiom) to enforce justice on behalf of Heaven | |
| 替死鬼 | tìsǐguǐ | scapegoat; fall guy |
替 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 替
Learning 替 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 替
How many strokes are in 替?
替 is written with 12 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 替 mean?
替 (tì) means to substitute for; to take the place of; to replace. A common word with it is 代替 (dàitì), meaning "to replace; to take the place of".
How do you pronounce 替?
替 is pronounced tì, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 替?
The radical of 替 is 曰, which carries the idea of "to speak". Dictionaries list 替 under this radical.
Is 替 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 替 is part of the HSK 4 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 替 and 给 when both mean "for"?
替 means doing something in someone's place, so they do not have to, as in 我替他上班 (I work his shift). 给 usually marks the person who receives or benefits, as in 给他打电话 (call him). In casual speech the two sometimes overlap, but 替 keeps the sense of substitution.
Are 代替 and 替代 the same?
Both mean to replace and are often interchangeable. 代替 is more common in everyday speech, while 替代 sounds a little more formal or technical, as in 替代品 (tìdàipǐn, substitute product).