取而代之
qǔ ér dài zhī
to take someone’s place; to supplant
Character by character
取qǔ
take
take
而ér
and
and
代dài
replace
replace
之zhī
it
it
Example
纸质地图用的人越来越少，手机导航早已取而代之。
Fewer and fewer people use paper maps; phone navigation took their place long ago.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
The young 项羽, watching the First Emperor go by, said 彼可取而代也: “that man can be replaced.” Now used of people, products and ideas alike.
Learn this in Lesson 87 · HSK 6–7: 汉：一个朝代的名字 (The Han: a dynasty that named a people)
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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