取り替える

• Reading: とりかえる
• Romaji: torikaeru
• Kanji breakdown: 取 (shu/to) — take, fetch; 替 (tai/ka) — exchange, replace
• Pronunciation: /to.ɾi.ka.e.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To exchange; to replace; to swap out. The act of removing one thing and putting another in its place.

A Group 2 (ichidan) transitive verb. Compound of 取る (toru, to take) and 替える (kaeru, to change/replace). Used for replacing broken parts, swapping items, or exchanging goods. Different from 交換する (koukan suru), which is more formal and often implies a mutual exchange.

Examples

1. 古い電池を新しいものに取り替えてください。 Please replace the old batteries with new ones.
2. エアコンのフィルターを取り替える時期です。 It's time to replace the air conditioner filter.
3. サイズが合わなかったので店で取り替えてもらった。 The size didn't fit, so I had the store exchange it.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, maintenance, shopping

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound verb from 取る (to take) and 替える (to replace/change). The literal sense is to take out and replace — swap one thing for another.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal