代 Stroke Order — How to Write 代
代 is written in 5 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical 亻, then complete the remaining strokes.
Stroke order matters in Chinese: it keeps the character balanced, and it is how dictionaries and handwriting input methods expect a character to be written.
代 Radical and Character Components
代 is an ideographic compound. A man 亻 caught 弋 by the passing of time.
Radical: 亻 + 3 more strokes
代 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- dài
Meanings of 代 in Chinese
1
dài代
To replace; to substitute; to act on behalf of.
我今天生病了，你能不能代替我去开会？
I'm sick today, could you attend the meeting on my behalf?
A historical period or era; an age or generation.
现代生活节奏很快。
The pace of modern life is very fast.
A generation; a period of time, especially in a family lineage or succession, as in 'next generation'.
我们应该为下一代创造更好的生活环境。
We should create a better living environment for the next generation.
Common Words and Phrases with 代
1
To do something on behalf of another person or entity; an agent, deputy, or a diplomatic representative (like a chargé d'affaires).
我们公司提供专业的代办服务，帮助客户处理各种行政事务。
Our company provides professional agency services to help clients manage various administrative matters.
2
To write on someone else's behalf; to ghostwrite.
她工作很忙，所以请了一位朋友代笔写感谢信。
She was too busy with work, so she asked a friend to ghostwrite a thank-you letter for her.
3
To represent, act as a representative or delegate; also, to exemplify or symbolize.
这朵玫瑰花代表着纯洁的爱情。
This rose symbolizes pure love.
4
A delegation or a team representing a country, government, or other organization.
学校派出代表团参加了全国性的科技创新大赛。
The school sent a delegation to participate in the national science and technology innovation competition.
5
to use a vehicle for transportation instead of walking
骑自行车很适合在城市里代步，既环保又方便。
Riding a bicycle is very suitable for getting around in the city, as it is both environmentally friendly and convenient.
6
bride-price or betrothal money given by the groom's family to the bride's family, historically substituting tea as an engagement gift.
婚礼结束后，新郎新娘向帮忙的朋友们递上了小份的代茶，表示感谢
After the wedding, the bride and groom offered small monetary gifts (dai cha) to their friends who helped, as a token of their gratitude.
7
Compensation, often referring to a biological process where one organ or part takes over the function of another that is damaged or diseased.
在慢性肾脏病初期，健康的肾脏组织会代偿受损部分的过滤功能。
In the early stages of chronic kidney disease, healthy kidney tissue will compensate for the filtering function of the damaged parts.
8
An alternative name or a substitute term.
在科幻小说中，机器人通常有一个编号作为正式名称，但它们的创造者或同伴会给它们起一个亲切的代称
In science fiction novels, robots typically have a serial number as their official name, but their creators or companions often give them an affectionate alias.
9
10
To cultivate land for others, often as a service.
村里的农户劳力不足时，往往会请邻居或专业的农机合作社来代耕土地。
When households in the village lack sufficient labor, they often ask neighbors or professional agricultural machinery cooperatives to farm their land on their behalf.
11
A generation gap refers to differences in attitudes, values, and perspectives between people of different generations, often leading to a lack of understanding or communication.
父母和孩子之间常常会有代沟，这可能会导致一些沟通上的挑战。
There is often a generation gap between parents and children, which can lead to some communication challenges.
12
To manage or administer on behalf of another party; to act as a custodian.
博物馆将代管这批新捐赠的艺术品，直到新建的展厅完工
The museum will temporarily manage these newly donated artworks until the new exhibition hall is completed.
13
A code name, an alias, or a number/letter used instead of a formal name.
为了保护参与者的隐私，这次活动的所有小组都使用代号进行交流。
To protect the privacy of participants, all groups in this activity communicate using code names.
14
The cost or price, often involving sacrifice or effort, paid to achieve a goal or obtain something.
我们不能以牺牲环境为代价来追求经济增长。
We cannot pursue economic growth at the expense of the environment.
More words with 代
- cháo朝dài代Dynasty
- dāng当dài代The contemporary era.
- gǔ古dài代ancient times; antiquity
- hòu后dài代descendants; offspring; posterity
- nián年dài代a decade or an era/period.
- xiàn现dài代Modern; contemporary; modern times.
- lì历dài代throughout the ages; past dynasties
- chuán传dài代exist from generation to generation
- gēng更dài代substitution or replacement
- jìn近dài代modern history, modern times
- jué绝dài代peerless, unparalleled
- mò末dài代The last generation, The last dynasty
- páo庖dài代substitute, replace
- tì替dài代replace, substitute
- zǐ子dài代filial generation; offspring
- dié迭dài代iteration
- shí时dài代era, age
- shì世dài代generations; ages
- xiàn现dài代rén人Modern people, Contemporary people
- dǎng党dài代biǎo表Party representative
Idioms with 代
- dài代dài代xiāng相chuán传passed down through generations
- dài代rén人shòu受guò过take the blame for others
- dài代rén人zhuō捉dāo刀ghostwrite for someone
- dài代wéi为shuō说xiàng项intercede or speak for someone
- bǎi百dài代wén文zōng宗timeless literary master
- bāo包bàn办dài代tì替monopolize and handle for others
- bù不xī惜dài代jià价at all costs
- chuán传zōng宗jiē接dài代continue the family line
- fēng风huá华jué绝dài代unparalleled grace and talent
- gǎi改cháo朝huàn换dài代dynastic change or political upheaval
- gēng更xīn新huàn换dài代update and replace generations
- huǎn缓bù步dài代chē车to walk leisurely instead of riding
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Open the tool →Questions about 代
What does 代 mean in Chinese?
代 (dài) means “To replace” in Chinese.
How do you pronounce 代?
代 is pronounced dài in Mandarin Chinese.
How many strokes does 代 have?
代 has 5 strokes.
How do you write 代?
代 is written in 5 strokes, starting from the radical 亻. See the animated stroke order on this page.
What is the radical of 代?
The radical of 代 is 亻, and 代 is an ideographic compound.