交代

• Pinyin: jiāo dài
• Hanzi breakdown: 交 = 六 (six) + 乂 (cross), meaning to exchange; 代 = 亻(person) + 弋 (arrow), meaning substitute

Meaning

To explain; to hand over; to confess. Giving instructions or accounting for something.

Has multiple meanings: to hand over work/tasks, to explain or brief someone, or to confess (especially in legal contexts). The context determines which meaning applies.

Examples

1. 离职前他把工作认真交代给了接替他的同事。 Before leaving his job, he carefully handed over the work to the colleague replacing him.
2. 妈妈出门前交代我要按时吃饭、早点休息。 Before going out, mom instructed me to eat on time and rest early.
3. 在警察的询问下，嫌疑人最终交代了作案经过。 Under police questioning, the suspect finally confessed to the details of the crime.

Usage Guide

Context: work, family, legal, instructions

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 我有几件事要交代你。(I have a few things to tell you about.)
• 他交代了事情的经过。(He explained what happened.)

Don't Say

• 交代给他这本书 (For giving objects, use 给 or 递给 — 交代 is for tasks, instructions, or information)

Origin & History

Compound of 交 (to hand over, exchange) + 代 (to substitute, generation), meaning to hand over to another.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal