---
title: "Jiaodai Meaning: 交代 (to tell) or 胶带 (adhesive tape)?"
description: "交代 (jiāodài) means “to tell; to instruct”. Not the jiaodai you heard? See 胶带. Hear its tones, see what 交 and 代 each mean and a real sentence that uses it."
canonical: "https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/jiaodai"
published: "2026-10-21"
updated: "2026-11-06"
author: "Mandarin The Wild"
---

[What does it mean in Chinese?](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning)

# What does 交代 mean?

猫头鹰māotóuyīngowl

交代 jiāodài

## to tell; to instruct

## It can also mean

- to explain; to account for
- to confess
- to hand over (duties)

## Its characters

1. 交 jiāo to hand over
2. 代 dài generation

## In a sentence

这件事你得给大家一个交代。 You owe everyone an explanation for this.

[More about 交代](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E4%BA%A4%E4%BB%A3)

## Other words said jiaodai

- [胶带jiāodàiadhesive tape](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%83%B6%E5%B8%A6)

## More words with 交 or 代

- [成交 chéngjiāo](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/chengjiao)
- [代表 dàibiǎo](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/daibiao)
- [代价 dàijià](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/daijia)
- [代理 dàilǐ](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/daili)
- [代理人 dàilǐrén](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/dailiren)
- [代替 dàitì](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/daiti)
- [代言 dàiyán](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/daiyan)
- [当代 dāngdài](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/dangdai)
- [公交车 gōngjiāochē](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/gongjiaoche)
- [古代 gǔdài](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/gudai)

## Keep 交代 for Review

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