Saying “instead of” in cantonese I want to ask how to say “instead of” in cantonese in the following context? 

“Can you pay me in Canadian dollar instead of Hong kong dollar?” (Or the general form of X instead of Y)

One way might be to use “不如”, but i feel this is too strong. What is a more acceptable way to say “instead”?
Instead of =  代替; 而不是

[use(A) instead of (B)] = [use (A) 代替/ substitute (B)]
or
[use(A) instead of (B)] = [use (A) 而不是/ but not (B)]
Example:
Use carrot instead of stick = 用利誘代替威逼; 用利誘而不是(用)威逼
Use John instead of Peter = 用約翰代替彼得; 用約翰而不是(用)彼得
kill John instead of Peter = 殺約翰而不是(殺)彼得

Cantonese:
用利誘而唔係(用)威逼
殺約翰而唔係(殺)彼得

~

&quot;pay me in Canadian dollar instead of Hong kong dollar&quot; in Cantonese
用加幣代替(用)港元付款(俾我); 用加幣而唔係(用)港元付款(俾我)
words in () are optional

You are correct, '不如' means 'better off'. It is different from &quot;instead of&quot;. &quot;用利誘(不如)用威逼&quot; means &quot;(better off) use stick than use carrot&quot;