“替” (tì) generally means “for,” “on behalf of,” or “to replace”, and is often used when one person acts in place of or does something for another.
1. As a preposition: “for / on behalf of / in place of”
替 + someone + verb
= to do something on behalf of someone
Examples:
我替你去吧。
→ I’ll go for you.她替妈妈照顾弟弟。
→ She takes care of her younger brother for her mom.你能不能替我请个假？
→ Can you ask for leave on my behalf?
2. As a verb: “to replace / to substitute”
It means to take someone’s place or replace someone/something.
Examples:
他生病了，我要替他上班。
→ He’s sick, so I have to work in his place.你可以用蜂蜜替糖。
→ You can replace sugar with honey.
3. Used with emotions or abstract ideas
You can use 替 to express doing or feeling something for another person.
Examples:
我替你高兴！
→ I’m happy for you!我替他感到难过。
→ I feel sad for him.
Summary Table:
| Usage | Function | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preposition | for / on behalf of | 替你去 | go for you |
| Verb | to replace | 替他上班 | work in his place |
| Emotional use | feeling for someone | 替你高兴 | happy for you |
Common Phrases:
替代 (tìdài) = to substitute / replace
→ 我们用植物肉来替代真肉。
→ We use plant-based meat to replace real meat.替身 (tìshēn) = stunt double / substitute
→ 他是演员的替身。
→ He is the actor’s body double.