-는 대신에 in Korean: “instead of, in exchange for”
-는 대신에
-neun daesine
instead of, in exchange for
Intermediate · Linking ideas
-는 대신에 (-neun daesine) means "instead of (doing)" or "in exchange for". It either replaces one action with another or balances one thing against another, like "It's expensive, but it's tasty to make up for it."
How to form it
| When | Add | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb stem | + 는 대신(에) | 타다 → 타는 대신에 |
| Adjective stem ending in a vowel | + ㄴ 대신(에) | 비싸다 → 비싼 대신에 |
| Adjective stem ending in a consonant | + 은 대신(에) | 작다 → 작은 대신에 |
| Noun | + 대신(에) | 커피 → 커피 대신에 |
How to use it
Meaning 1, replacing: "instead of A, B." 택시를 타는 대신에 걸어갔어요 (Instead of taking a taxi, I walked).
Meaning 2, trading off: "A, and in return/on the other hand B." 이 집은 비싼 대신에 맛있어요 (This place is pricey, but it's tasty to make up for it). This is the meaning used with adjectives, and for deals between people: 내가 밥 사는 대신에 네가 커피 사 (I'll pay for the meal, you get the coffee).
The 에 is optional: 대신 and 대신에 mean the same. The final ending decides politeness.
Examples
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Explaining how you got home
Recommending a restaurant
Splitting a bill with a friend
Asking for a day off
Don’t mix it up with
-지 말고: -지 말고 means "don't do A, do B" and is used for advice or commands. -는 대신에 can describe what happened or a trade-off, not only instructions.
-기는 하다: -기는 하다 admits something before a "but" (it is cheap, but ...). -(으)ㄴ 대신에 balances a downside with an upside.
Common mistakes
Using 는 with adjectives. Say 비싼 대신에, not 비싸는 대신에.
Want the basics first? Read Describing nouns (-는, -은, -을).
Questions learners ask
What is the difference between 대신 and 대신에?
There is no real difference. 에 is optional, and 대신 alone is very common in speech.
Can I use 대신 with a noun?
Yes. Put it right after the noun: 밥 대신에 빵을 먹었어요 means "I ate bread instead of rice."