替身

• Pinyin: tì shēn
• Hanzi breakdown: 替 = 夫夫 (two people) + 日 (sun) — one replacing another; 身 = pictograph of a body — person, body

Meaning

Stand-in; body double; substitute person.

A person who takes another's place, especially in film for dangerous stunts or scenes requiring a double. Also used figuratively for scapegoats or proxies. In gaming and anime, can refer to a spiritual projection or avatar.

Examples

1. 这场爆炸戏太危险了，导演安排让替身来完成。 This explosion scene was too dangerous, so the director arranged for a stunt double to do it.
2. 古代帝王出行常用替身，以防刺客暗杀。 Ancient emperors often used body doubles when traveling to guard against assassins.
3. 别把我当替身，我不想做别人的影子。 Don't treat me as a substitute — I don't want to be someone else's shadow.

Usage Guide

Context: film, entertainment, figurative

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 这场戏用了替身。(A stunt double was used for this scene.)
• 我不想当她的替身。(I don't want to be her stand-in.)

Don't Say

• 把临时帮忙的人叫'替身' (Don't call someone temporarily helping out a 替身 — it implies taking over someone's identity or role)

Origin & History

替 means to substitute, 身 means body — a substitute body/person.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal