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Japanese vocabulary · Beginner
How do you say "replace" in Japanese?
交換する
koukan suru
In Japanese, "replace" is 交換する (koukan suru).
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Pronunciation
Kou-kan-su-ru, four syllables, the long 'kou' held twice as long, then 'kan' rhymes with 'con'.
Writing and usage
交換する is written using kanji. It's a verb, and this word is also taught inside the Noun Town language learning game, where it appears in interactive lessons alongside hundreds of other everyday words.
Example sentence
壊れたランプを交換しないと。
koware ta ranpu wo koukan shinaito.
I need to replace the broken lamp.
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How to remember 交換する
Koukan sounds like 'coke, con' — swap out the flat coke for a fresh one, a simple replacement.
Related words
- whistle 口笛を吹く kuchibue wo fuku
- yawn あくびをする akubiwosuru
- hiccup しゃっくりする shakkurisuru
- blink まばたきをする mabatakiwosuru
- stretch 伸びをする nobi wosuru
- bend 曲げる mage ru
- kneel ひざまずく hizamazuku
- squat しゃがむ shagamu
- compare 比較する hikaku suru
Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.
Questions about 交換する
How do you pronounce 交換する?
Kou-kan-su-ru, four syllables, the long 'kou' held twice as long, then 'kan' rhymes with 'con'.
Is 交換する formal or casual?
交換する is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech. The level of formality comes from the sentence structure around it, not from the word itself.
How is 交換する written in Japanese?
交換する is written using kanji. Romanised, it reads as koukan suru.
Where can I practice Japanese words for free?
You can play free Japanese minigames in your browser on the Noun Town online games page, with no sign-up needed. Every word in the Japanese glossary also has native audio and an example sentence you can revisit any time.
"Replace" in other languages
Curated by Jack Ratcliffe
This word is part of the vocabulary taught in the Japanese language learning game Noun Town, where words are introduced through play rather than memorisation. Want to play the full game? Get Noun Town on Steam.
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