替
tì · HSK 4
for
🔄 替 = 夫 + 夫 + 曰 — two men 'speaking' one in place of the other
Originally showed two figures with one substituting for the other; the modern form keeps the swap idea. Common in 代替 (dàitì, replace) and 替你 (tì nǐ, on your behalf).
替 — two 夫 (man) over 曰 (say)
Originally written with two 立 (stand) over 白, depicting two people side by side, suggesting replacement or alternation. The form evolved to two 夫 over 曰. The core meaning shifted from 'decline/abolish' to 'replace, substitute for'.