N3 Grammar ⑱　かわりに

JLPT N3 Japanese self-study　·　~12 min　·　Instead of / in return for / but as a trade-off

'I attended the meeting in my father's place.' 'The pay is low, but in return there's no overtime.' 'Thank you for helping — here's some cake.' Three meanings, one pattern.

What you'll learn

• ① Substitution: 'in place of ~' — taking someone else's role
• ② Trade-off: 'but in return' — a drawback balanced by a benefit
• ③ Return favour: 'in return for ~' — giving back as thanks or compensation
• Context determines which meaning — always read the full sentence

How to study “N3 Grammar ⑱　かわりに”

“N3 Grammar ⑱　かわりに” (Instead of / in return for / but as a trade-off) is a JLPT N3 chapter of our free Japanese self-study course, about 12 min. You learn by doing — flashcard drills and fill-in-the-blank quizzes graded on the spot — completely free, with no sign-up and no ad wall. Once it clicks, read the matching in-depth explainer over in Grammar.