TOPIK 3The official curriculum files 대신 in its word list at level 3, and -는 대신에 in its grammar list at level 3.
대신에 (daesine) means "instead of".
Means 'instead of'. Substitution or compensation.
Checked against the official learner dictionary from the National Institute of Korean Language
- 에 e is optional: 대신 daesin and 대신에 daesine mean the same.
Build it
When to use it
Swapping things
One thing replaces another.
Standing in
Doing it in someone's place.
A trade-off
After a verb: "but in return".
Watch out
대신 daesin is a noun, so it takes a space.
With a verb, use the 는 neun form, not 기 gi.
In context
8 examples- 1
커피 대신 차 주세요.
Keopi daesin cha juseyo.
Give me tea instead of coffee.
- 2
제가 대신 갈게요.
Jega daesin galgeyo.
I will go instead (of you).
- 3
오늘은 버스 대신 자전거를 탔어요.
Oneureun beoseu daesin jajeongeoreul tasseoyo.
Today I rode my bike instead of taking the bus.
- 4
바쁜 친구 대신 내가 갈게.
Bappeun chingu daesin naega galge.
My friend's busy, so I'll go in her place.
- 5
밥 대신에 빵 먹어도 돼요?
Bap daesine ppang meogeodo dwaeyo?
Can I have bread instead of rice?
- 6
이 회사는 월급이 적은 대신에 휴가가 길어요.
I hoesaneun wolgeubi jeogeun daesine hyugaga gireoyo.
This company doesn't pay much, but the vacations are long.
- 7
선물 대신 편지를 썼어요.
Seonmul daesin pyeonjireul sseosseoyo.
I wrote a letter instead of buying a gift.
- 8
제 대신 이것 좀 부탁해도 될까요?
Je daesin igeot jom butakaedo doelkkayo?
Could you take care of this for me?
Practice
8 questions커피대신 차를 마셨어요.
Keopidaesin chareul masyeosseoyo.
I drank tea instead of coffee.
The trade-off meaning
After a verb or adjective, 대신(에) often means "but to make up for it". One side is a downside, the other is a plus:
- 이 집은 좁은 대신에 싸요. i jibeun jobeun daesine ssayo "This place is small, but it's cheap."
- 내가 요리하는 대신 네가 설거지해. naega yorihaneun daesin nega seolgeojihae "I'll cook, and you do the dishes in return."
대신 vs 말고
말고 malgo turns down one option, usually in a request. 대신 names what takes the other's place:
- 콜라 말고 사이다 주세요. kolla malgo saida juseyo "Not cola. Lemon-lime soda, please."
- 콜라 대신 사이다를 마셨어요. kolla daesin saidareul masyeosseoyo "I drank lemon-lime soda instead of cola."
When you're ordering, 말고 is the more common pick, though 대신 works too: 콜라 대신 사이다 주세요 kolla daesin saida juseyo.
Hanja in this lesson
Words from the examples that are written with Chinese characters. Tap a character to see its page.
Look it up in the dictionary
The entry for 대신에 in two trusted Korean dictionaries.
