Japanese symbol for “alternative”
代替
だいたい
Romaji: daitai
substitution
In Japanese, alternative is 代替, read だいたい (daitai).
Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.
Meanings
- n, vs, vt substitution
- adj-no alternative; substitute
Written forms: 代替、代替え. Readings: だいたい、だいがえ.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “alternative”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| アングラ | アングラ angura | underground (film, theater, etc.); unconventional; alternative |
| オルタナティブ | オルタナティブ orutanatibu | alternative |
| 択一的 | たくいつてき takuitsuteki | alternative |
| 選択的 | せんたくてき sentakuteki | selective; optional; alternative |
| アンダーグラウンド | アンダーグラウンド andaaguraundo | underground (film, theater, etc.); unconventional; alternative |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 時代 | じだい jidai | period; epoch; era |
| 代表 | だいひょう daihyou | representation; representative; delegate |
| 現代 | げんだい gendai | present age; present day; contemporary |
| 代わり | かわり kawari | substitute; replacement; substituting |
| 世代 | せだい sedai | generation |
| 年代 | ねんだい nendai | age; era; period |
| 為替 | かわせ kawase | money order; draft |
| 替え | かえ kae | change; alteration |
See also: Chinese symbol for “alternative”.
Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.