代

Core sense is substitution, divided into two primary directions:

1. Functional and Social: To take the place of another (displacement) or to act as a proxy/representative (agency).

2. Chronological: A biological unit of time (generation), a general historical period (era/epoch), or the act of succession.

• Verb/Preposition: When followed by an entity (代 X), functions as "on behalf of X" or "replacing X."
• Noun/Classifier: Used to designate specific slices of time, such as generations or eras.

Contrast with 替: While both involve replacement, 代 is more closely associated with social standing, official representation, and lineage. In contrast, 替 often denotes a physical swap or a shift in duty.

The presence of the 人 (person) component indicates that this glyph typically governs social roles, official positions, or familial duties rather than the replacement of inanimate objects.

In early philosophical or archaic texts, avoid an instinctive reading of "dynasty" (a later imperial concept). In these contexts, the glyph more likely refers to a biological generation or a fluid act of substitution.