Japanese symbol for “substitute”
代わり
かわり
Romaji: kawari
substitute; replacement; substituting; replacing
In Japanese, substitute is 代わり, read かわり (kawari).
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
- adj-no, n substitute; replacement; substituting; replacing
- adj-no, n stand-in; proxy; alternate; deputy; relief; successor
- n compensation; exchange; return
- n another helping; second helping; seconds; refill
- n upcoming program; upcoming programme
Written forms: 代わり、替わり、代り、替り. Readings: かわり.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “substitute”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 代役 | だいやく daiyaku | substitute (actor); stand-in; fill-in |
| 移す | うつす utsusu | to transfer (to a different place, group, etc.); to change; to move (something) |
| 替え | かえ kae | substitute; spare; replacement |
| 副 | ふく fuku | assistant; associate; vice- |
| 替え玉 | かえだま kaedama | stand-in; proxy; substitute |
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 |
| 世代 | せだい sedai | generation |
| 年代 | ねんだい nendai | age; era; period |
See also: Chinese symbol for “substitute”.
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.