KanjiSchool
代
“to substitute / era” in Japanese is 代, read dai, tai, ka (だい, たい, か, しろ). It is a Grade 3 Kyōiku kanji, taught in year 3 of Japanese elementary school, and appears in words such as 時代 (era).
Try it now
What does 代 mean?
Learn all 1,018 kanji with spaced-repetition review — free. Start free →
私が代わりに行く。
わたしがかわりにいく。I will go instead.
Get unlimited AI example sentences + native audio + saved progress. Start free →
Unlock guided stroke order, scoring and daily streaks. Start free →
Full details, readings & example
| Kanji | 代 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | to substitute / era |
| Readings | だい, たい, か, しろ |
| Grade | Grade 3 (Medium) |
| Curriculum | Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school |
| Example | 時代 (era) |
How to read 代
代 is read dai (だい) or tai (たい) or ka (か) or shiro (しろ) depending on the word.
Words with 代
Learn 代 in real sentences — free
Read stories and news built from only the kanji you already know. KanjiSchool’s path covers all 2,136 Jōyō kanji — 1,018 ready to learn now.
Start free — no credit card →
Kanji read the same way as 代
Same sound, different character — the classic trap. Compare them side by side:
Read this character in a real sentence
Updated: 2026-08-28