替 + 人 + 动词
for someone, in their place
Structure
主语 + 替 + 人 + 动词
What it means
“For someone, in their place”: doing something on someone’s behalf. With feelings it means “for”: 替你高兴, 替你担心.
How it is built
Subject + 替 + person + verb: 我明天要去医院，你能替我去开会吗？ (could you go to the meeting instead of me?). 我妈妈让我替她买一块玉 (Mum asked me to buy a piece of jade for her).
When to use it
Use it for errands and stand-ins: 替我问问汇率. 给 is about who receives: 给妈妈买礼物 is buying Mum a present, but 替妈妈买 means doing the buying she wanted done.
Watch out
替 is not 给: 我给妈妈买了礼物 = a present for Mum; 我替妈妈买了礼物 = I did the buying on her behalf. For the person who receives something, use 给.
Examples
我妈妈让我替她买一块玉。
My mum asked me to buy a piece of jade for her.
你去银行的时候，替我问问汇率。
When you go to the bank, ask about the exchange rate for me.
我明天要去医院，你能替我去开会吗？
I have to go to the hospital tomorrow. Could you go to the meeting instead of me?
听说你找到了新工作，我真替你高兴！
I hear you’ve found a new job. I’m so happy for you!
Learn this in HSK 4 · Lesson 20: 怎么投资 (Money matters)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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