～かわりに
Instead of something, or in return for something
You’ll be able to describe choosing one option instead of another and making a trade-off in return for something.
お母さんが料理を作ってくれるかわりに、蓮がお皿を洗います。
okaasan ga ryouri o tsukutte kureru kawari ni, ren ga osara o araimasu.
What do you think this sentence means?
Mom cooks for him, and in return, Ren washes the dishes.
In return or exchange for
～かわりに can mean “instead of” or “in return for.” Here, receiving a meal is balanced by taking on the chore of dishwashing.
車のかわりに、自転車で行きます。
kuruma no kawari ni, jitensha de ikimasu.
I will go by bicycle instead of by car.
英語を教えてもらうかわりに、日本語を教えます。
eigo o oshiete morau kawari ni, nihongo o oshiemasu.
In return for being taught English, I teach Japanese.
Replace an option or show an exchange
Use plain verb + かわりに or noun + のかわりに. The second part states the replacement choice or what is given in return.
コーヒーのかわりに、お茶をください。
koohii no kawari ni, ocha o kudasai.
Please give me tea instead of coffee.
昼ご飯をおごってもらうかわりに、友達の引っ越しを手伝った。
hirugohan o ogotte morau kawari ni, tomodachi no hikkoshi o tetsudatta.
In return for my friend buying me lunch, I helped them move.
今年は年賀状のかわりに、メールで新年のあいさつをした。
kotoshi wa nengajou no kawari ni, meeru de shinnen no aisatsu o shita.
This year, instead of New Year’s cards, I sent my New Year greetings by email.
旅行に行くかわりに、そのお金で新しいパソコンを買った。
ryokou ni iku kawari ni, sono okane de atarashii pasokon o katta.
Instead of going on a trip, I used that money to buy a new computer.
7 more examples in the grammar path — free for a limited time.