replace by 的核心含义是“被……替代”,强调旧事物被新事物取代,通常用于被动语态。其本义指物理上把一样东西放到另一样东西的位置,引申为抽象概念(如制度、方法、人员)的替换。常见义项:1) 具体物品的替换,如“The old bridge was replaced by a new one.”;2) 职位或人员的更替,如“The manager was replaced by a younger colleague.”;3) 抽象事物(如政策、技术)的取代,如“Coal was gradually replaced by natural gas.”。这些义项共享“一物取代另一物”的核心逻辑,从具体到抽象,从物理到社会层面。
词源解析
replace 由前缀 re-(再次)和词根 place(放置)组成,字面意为“放回原处”,后引申为“替换”。介词 by 在此表示施动者,构成被动结构。记忆时可将 replace 拆解为“重新放置”,而 by 提示“被谁替换”,整体记忆为“被重新放置的东西所替代”。
使用场景
replace by 常用于正式语体,如学术写作(描述技术更迭)、新闻报道(报道人事变动)、商务邮件(说明产品更新)。在日常口语中,更常用 be replaced with 或直接用 replace。法律文本中可能强调程序性替换,语气客观。不同场景中,replace by 均保持中性、客观的语气,不带感情色彩。
语法要点
replace 是及物动词,常用于被动语态 be replaced by,其中 by 引出动作执行者。注意:主动语态通常用 replace A with B,被动语态才用 be replaced by B。常见句型:Sth. is replaced by sth. else. 易错点:不要混淆 by 和 with——被动语态强调施动者用 by,主动语态强调替代材料用 with。例如:The broken window was replaced by the landlord. (房东换了窗户)The broken window was replaced with a new one. (窗户被换成了新的)。
近义辨析
replace by 与 substitute for 相近,但 replace by 强调旧物被新物取代,substitute for 强调临时替代。例如:Sugar can be substituted for honey.(可用糖代替蜂蜜)强调替代行为;Sugar has been replaced by artificial sweeteners.(糖被人工甜味剂取代)强调结果。另外,supplant 比 replace 更正式,含贬义,指用不正当手段取代。例如:The old aristocracy was supplanted by the bourgeoisie. 而 replace by 中性。
需要留意
replace by 属于中性偏正式语体,常用于书面语,口语中较少。无褒贬色彩,但若用于人事变动,可能隐含对原任的负面评价,需谨慎。常见误用:将主动语态的 replace with 误写成 replace by,例如“We replaced the old system by a new one”应改为“with”。另外,be replaced by 后接人时,可能暗示被解雇,需注意语境。
常用组合
be replaced by something
被某物取代
be replaced by a new version
被新版本取代
be replaced by a younger person
被更年轻的人取代
be replaced by a more efficient system
被更高效的系统取代
gradually replaced by
逐渐被……取代
eventually replaced by
最终被……取代
quickly replaced by
迅速被……取代
双语例句
The old factory has been replaced by a modern shopping mall.
旧工厂已被现代购物中心取代。
In many offices, typewriters were replaced by computers in the 1990s.
在20世纪90年代,许多办公室的打字机被电脑取代。
The manager was replaced by his deputy after the scandal.
丑闻发生后,经理被他的副手取代。
Coal has been gradually replaced by renewable energy sources.
煤炭已被可再生能源逐步取代。
The damaged part can be replaced by a standard component.