When you want to express the idea of changing or exchanging something in Japanese, you'll often encounter the verb 換える (kaeru). This verb is versatile and can be used in many situations where something is replaced with another of the same kind, or when you switch one thing for another. Think of it as swapping something out, like changing clothes, exchanging money, or replacing a broken part.
For instance, if you're talking about changing trains, you would use 電車を換える (densha o kaeru). If you're exchanging gifts with someone, you might say プレゼントを換える (purezento o kaeru). It implies a direct substitution or alteration from one state or item to another. Keep in mind that while there are other verbs that can mean 'to change' like 変える (kaeru), 換える specifically emphasizes the idea of replacement or exchange, often with something of similar function or category.
When you want to express the idea of changing, exchanging, or replacing something, 換える (kaeru) is the verb you'll often use. This verb focuses on the act of substituting one thing for another. For example, you might use it when changing clothes, exchanging money, or replacing a broken part.
How Formal Is It?
"規定を変更する必要があります。(きていをへんこうするひつようがあります。) - It is necessary to change the regulations."
"新しい電池に替えてください。(あたらしいでんちにかえてください。) - Please replace with new batteries."
"気分転換に髪型チェンジしたよ。(きぶんてんかんにかみがたチェンジしたよ。) - I changed my hairstyle for a change of pace."
"お洋服をかえようね。(おようふくをかえようね。) - Let's change your clothes."
"スマホの設定いじってみた。(スマホのせっていじってみた。) - I fiddled with my phone settings."
알아야 할 문법
Use 換える (kaeru) when physically changing one thing for another, like changing clothes or exchanging money.
服を換える (fuku o kaeru) - to change clothes
It can also be used for replacing something, such as replacing a broken part.
電池を換える (denchi o kaeru) - to replace batteries
When talking about exchanging something for something else, you can use に (ni) to mark the new item.
円をドルに換える (en o doru ni kaeru) - to exchange yen for dollars
It's often used in a compound verb to mean 'do something again' or 're-do something', like in 持ち換える (mochikaeru).
持ち換える (mochikaeru) - to change one's grip; to re-grip
Don't confuse 換える (kaeru) with 変える (kaeru), which means to change something in a more general sense (like changing plans or opinions). 換える implies a direct exchange or substitution.
予定を変える (yotei o kaeru) - to change plans (using 変える)
셀프 테스트 48 질문
この服は少し小さいです。もっと大きいサイズに___たいです。
「換える」は、物や場所を交換する際に使います。ここでは「服のサイズを交換したい」という意味なので、「換え」が適切です。
電池が切れました。新しい電池に___ましょう。
「電池を新しいものと交換する」という意味なので、「換えましょう」が自然です。
古いパソコンを新しいものに___ました。
「古いパソコンを新しいものと交換した」という意味なので、「換えました」が正しいです。
外貨を日本円に___たいのですが。
「外貨を日本円に交換したい」という意味なので、「換えたい」が適切です。
席を___ていただけますか。
「席を交換してほしい」という意味なので、「換えて」が自然です。
シャツのボタンが取れたので、新しいものに___ました。
「取れたボタンを新しいものと交換した」という意味なので、「換えました」が正しいです。
You are at a store and want to exchange a shirt for a different size. Write a simple sentence in Japanese asking to exchange it. Use 「換える」.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
このシャツを換えてください。
Imagine you are talking about changing trains. Write a simple Japanese sentence saying 'I will change trains at the next station.' Use 「換える」.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
次の駅で電車を換えます。
You want to exchange money at a bank. Write a short Japanese sentence saying 'I want to exchange money.' Use 「換える」.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
お金を換えたいです。
What is the speaker asking to do?
Read this passage:
すみません、このくつを換えてもいいですか？
What is the speaker asking to do?
「換える」 means to change or exchange. The speaker is asking 'May I exchange these shoes?'
「換える」 means to change or exchange. The speaker is asking 'May I exchange these shoes?'
What is the speaker doing with the old TV?
Read this passage:
私は古いテレビを新しいテレビに換えます。
What is the speaker doing with the old TV?
「換えます」 means to change or replace. The sentence says 'I will exchange the old TV for a new TV.'
「換えます」 means to change or replace. The sentence says 'I will exchange the old TV for a new TV.'
What does the speaker want to know about?
Read this passage:
切符を換える時間はありますか？
What does the speaker want to know about?
「切符を換える」 means to exchange tickets. The question is 'Is there time to exchange tickets?'
「切符を換える」 means to exchange tickets. The question is 'Is there time to exchange tickets?'
この服は小さすぎます。もっと大きいサイズに___たいです。
「換える」は物を別の物と交換する意味で使われます。ここでは服のサイズを交換したいので「換えたい」が適切です。
古い電池を新しいものに___ください。
「換える」は、古いものと新しいものを交換するときによく使われます。電池の交換なので「換えて」が適切です。
壊れた椅子を新しいものに___。
「換える」は、壊れたものを新しいものと交換する意味でも使えます。ここでは壊れた椅子を新しい椅子に交換したので「換えました」が適切です。
電車の中で席を___あげました。
「席を換える」は、自分の席と別の席を交換するという意味で使えます。ここでは別の席に移ったという意味で「換えて」が適切です。
このお金を円に___ことができますか。
「換える」は、お金を別の通貨に交換する意味でも使われます。ここでは外貨を円に交換したいので「換える」が適切です。
このシャツ、サイズが合わないから___てもらえますか。
服のサイズが合わない場合、別のサイズのものと交換することを「換えてもらう」と言います。
The speaker changed something old for something new.
Someone wants to exchange clothes because of the size.
It's about changing trains.
Read this aloud:
お金を換えたいです。
Focus: かえたい (kaetai)
당신의 답변:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
バスを乗り換える。
Focus: のりかえる (norikaeru)
당신의 답변:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
新しい電球に換えてください。
Focus: かえてください (kaete kudasai)
당신의 답변:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
You want to change your Japanese Yen (円) into US Dollars (ドル) at the bank. Write a simple sentence requesting this.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
円をドルに換えてください。
You are at a store and realize you have a 10,000 yen bill, but need smaller change. Write a short sentence asking to exchange it for smaller bills.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
一万円札を小銭に換えてもらえますか。
Imagine you have an old, broken phone and you've bought a new one. Write a sentence saying you will replace the old phone with the new one.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
古い携帯を新しい携帯に換えます。
What does person A want to do?
Read this passage:
A: すみません、この靴はサイズが小さいので、大きいサイズに換えてもらえますか？ B: はい、在庫があれば可能です。
What does person A want to do?
Person A says 'サイズが小さいので、大きいサイズに換えてもらえますか？' which means 'My shoes are too small, could I exchange them for a larger size?'
Person A says 'サイズが小さいので、大きいサイズに換えてもらえますか？' which means 'My shoes are too small, could I exchange them for a larger size?'
What did the person do to make the room brighter?
Read this passage:
週末、部屋の模様替えをしました。古いカーテンを新しいカーテンに換えたら、部屋が明るくなりました。
What did the person do to make the room brighter?
The passage says '古いカーテンを新しいカーテンに換えたら、部屋が明るくなりました。' meaning 'When I replaced the old curtains with new ones, the room became brighter.'
The passage says '古いカーテンを新しいカーテンに換えたら、部屋が明るくなりました。' meaning 'When I replaced the old curtains with new ones, the room became brighter.'
What currency does the person want to obtain?
Read this passage:
私は日本の銀行でドルを円に換える予定です。旅行のために、たくさん円が必要です。
What currency does the person want to obtain?
The sentence 'ドルを円に換える予定です' means 'I plan to exchange dollars for yen.' Therefore, they want yen.
The sentence 'ドルを円に換える予定です' means 'I plan to exchange dollars for yen.' Therefore, they want yen.
This phrase means 'to exchange yen for dollars'.
This phrase means 'There's no time to change clothes'. 着替える (kigaeru) is a compound verb meaning to change clothes.
This phrase means 'to replace the old batteries with new ones'.
The speaker is talking about replacing something old with something new.
The speaker made a change to their room's atmosphere.
The speaker needs to exchange currency.
Read this aloud:
旅行のために、ユーロを円に換えるつもりです。
Focus: ユーロ (Yūro), 円 (En), 換える (kaeru)
당신의 답변:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
この本は面白かったから、別の本と換えてもいいですか？
Focus: 面白かった (omoshirokatta), 換えてもいいですか (kaetemo ii desu ka)
당신의 답변:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
古い電池を新しいものに換えてください。
Focus: 古い (furui), 電池 (denchi), 換えてください (kaete kudasai)
당신의 답변:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Imagine you're at a store and want to exchange a shirt for a different size. Write a short sentence in Japanese explaining what you want to do, using the word 換える.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
このシャツのサイズを換えていただけますか？ (Could you exchange the size of this shirt for me?)
You are discussing a plan with a friend and want to suggest changing the meeting time. Write a Japanese sentence proposing to change the time, using 換える.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
会議の時間を換えた方がいいですか？ (Should we change the meeting time?)
You have an old computer and want to replace it with a new one. Write a Japanese sentence expressing your desire to replace your computer, using 換える.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
古いパソコンを新しいものに換えたいです。 (I want to replace my old computer with a new one.)
What does person B suggest doing?
Read this passage:
A: この服、サイズが合わないんですけど。 B: 申し訳ございません。別のサイズに換えられますか？ A: はい、Lサイズをお願いします。 B: かしこまりました。 (A: This clothing doesn't fit me. B: I apologize. Can it be exchanged for a different size? A: Yes, L size please. B: Understood.)
What does person B suggest doing?
Person B asks if the item can be '別のサイズに換えられますか', meaning 'exchanged for a different size'.
Person B asks if the item can be '別のサイズに換えられますか', meaning 'exchanged for a different size'.
Why did they decide to change their travel plans?
Read this passage:
私たちは来週の旅行の予定を換えることにしました。天気予報によると、週末は雨になるそうです。 (We decided to change our travel plans for next week. According to the weather forecast, it will rain on the weekend.)
Why did they decide to change their travel plans?
The passage states '天気予報によると、週末は雨になるそうです。' (According to the weather forecast, it will rain on the weekend.), which is why they decided to change their plans.
The passage states '天気予報によると、週末は雨になるそうです。' (According to the weather forecast, it will rain on the weekend.), which is why they decided to change their plans.
What will happen if the old part is not replaced?
Read this passage:
この部品は古くなったので、新しいものに換えなければなりません。そうしないと、機械が正常に動きません。 (Since this part is old, it must be replaced with a new one. If not, the machine will not operate normally.)
What will happen if the old part is not replaced?
The passage explicitly states 'そうしないと、機械が正常に動きません' (If not, the machine will not operate normally).
The passage explicitly states 'そうしないと、機械が正常に動きません' (If not, the machine will not operate normally).
/ 48 correct
Perfect score!
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上に
B1Above; on top of.
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B1Excuse me for going first; said when leaving before others.
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B1Mediation, agency (e.g., real estate).
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