Kanji

What does the kanji 代 mean?

代 means substitute, replace; generation, era. On'yomi ダイ、タイ. Kun'yomi か.わる、かわ.る、かわ.り、か.わり、-がわ.り、-が.わり、か.える、よ、しろ.

Quick facts
On'yomi	ダイ、タイ
Kun'yomi	か.わる、かわ.る、かわ.り、か.わり、-がわ.り、-が.わり、か.える、よ、しろ
Strokes	5
Main radical	人
Level (estimated, JLPT framework)	N4

代On'yomi ダイ、タイKun'yomi か.わる、かわ.る、かわ.り、か.わり、-がわ.り、-が.わり、か.える、よ、しろ

N4 · estimated, JLPT framework5 strokes

substitute, replace; generation, era

Memory hook

A person (亻) holding the stake (弋), standing in for someone else — SUBSTITUTE, ERA.

Main radical

人person 2 strokes

Built from

Stroke order · 5 strokes

1
2
3
4
5

Common words

時代じだいera, period
代えるかえるto replace, to change (something) for another
代わりかわりsubstitute, replacement; second helping
代わるかわるto take the place of, to substitute

More words with this kanji

～代～だいin one's ~s, the ~ era (e.g. 20代: in one's twenties)
代理だいりagent, proxy, on behalf of
代表だいひょうrepresentative
代金だいきんprice, payment (for goods)
年代ねんだいera, decade
現代げんだいmodern times, the present age
近代きんだいmodern era
代替だいたいsubstitute, alternative (replacement goods, alternative plan)
代名詞だいめいしpronoun; a byword, typical symbol
お代わりおかわりsecond helping, extra serving
世代せだいgeneration
代償だいしょうprice paid, sacrifice, compensation
代弁だいべんspeaking on someone's behalf; representation
代用だいようsubstitute, use as a replacement
先代せんだいpredecessor, previous generation
古代こだいancient times
代る代るかわるがわるalternately, taking turns

Look up another word →