替 tì to change
to change; to replace; to substitute for; to take the place of; on behalf of
How it came to be
Two figures side by side over the sun, the husband block twice. One takes the other's place, and the sun lends the sound. The pair is the point: replacing needs two.
用法
- Doubles as a coverb meaning "on behalf of, for": 我替你付钱 wǒ tì nǐ fù qián, "I'll pay for you (in your place)" - this is different from 给 gěi, which just marks a beneficiary without implying substitution.
- As a plain verb it means "to replace/substitute": 代替 dàitì is the formal, general word for replacing one thing with another, while 替换 tìhuàn is more concrete, physical swapping.
- 交替 jiāotì means to alternate/take turns (交替进行 jiāotì jìnxíng, "to alternate"), and 替补 tìbǔ is specifically a substitute player/backup in sports or lineups.