代表
represent; representative
HSK level
- Pinyin
- dàibiǎo
- Part of speech
- verb
- Level
- HSK 4
- Strokes
- 13
- Register
- neutral
- Measure word
- 位 / 名
- In episodes
- 1
Stroke order for 代表
代表 is written with 13 strokes (代: 5, 表: 8). The animation replays automatically.
What does 代表 mean?
代表 (dàibiǎo) works as both a verb, 'to represent / to stand for / on behalf of,' and a noun, 'a representative / delegate.'
As a verb it links a person or thing to what it symbolizes: 红色代表热情 ('red represents passion'), or 我代表公司 ('I, on behalf of the company'). As a noun it names someone acting for a group — a delegate, a spokesperson, a class representative (班代表). English separates these into 'represent' (verb) and 'representative' (noun), but Chinese uses the same two characters for both, with the surrounding grammar telling you which.
It is neutral in register, common in both business/political contexts and everyday speech. Note that 代表 emphasizes standing in for or symbolizing something; to physically substitute for someone you use 代替 (dàitì) instead.
Character by character
Memory hook: 代 (on behalf of) + 表 (to express) → to express on someone's behalf = to represent.
Hear 代表 in real episodes
代表 appears in 1 Fluentide podcast episode at natural native speed. Each sentence plays at the easiest difficulty it exists in — switch it to hear the same moment at your level, with full pinyin and English throughout.
这个人在前面主持，最后代表大家说话。
That person sits at the front, runs the discussion, and speaks for everyone at the end.
A Jury Made Her Their Foreman Because "You Went to Law School" — She Had Only Played a Lawyer in Legally Blonde, and Never Finished College
Example sentences
我代表全家欢迎你。
Wǒ dàibiǎo quánjiā huānyíng nǐ.
On behalf of my whole family, welcome.
neutral
他是我们班的代表。
Tā shì wǒmen bān de dàibiǎo.
He is our class representative.
neutral
在中国，红色代表喜庆。
Zài Zhōngguó, hóngsè dàibiǎo xǐqìng.
In China, red represents celebration.
written
这幅画是他的代表作。
Zhè fú huà shì tā de dàibiǎozuò.
This painting is his representative work.
written
Common phrases with 代表
Synonyms
象征 means 'to symbolize' and is more abstract and literary (鸽子象征和平, 'the dove symbolizes peace'). 代表 can mean 'symbolize' too but also 'act on behalf of,' which 象征 cannot.
代理 means 'to act as agent for / acting (in a role),' focusing on temporarily filling a duty. 代表 is standing for or symbolizing a group; 代理 is doing someone's job for them.
Don't confuse 代表 with
FAQ
Related words from the same episodes
Acquire it by listening
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