Meaning
例如 is a formal conjunction used to introduce specific examples that illustrate a previous statement. It functions similarly to 'for example' in English and is commonly used in written and spoken Mandarin to provide concrete instances of a general concept.
Usage
例如 is appropriate for both spoken and written contexts, though it leans slightly formal. In casual conversation, speakers might use 比如 instead, which is less formal. 例如 typically appears at the beginning of a clause or phrase that provides examples, and multiple examples can follow, often separated by commas or 、.
Examples
- 01中国有很多大城市，例如北京、上海和广州。, , .China has many large cities, for example Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou.
- 02我喜欢吃水果，例如苹果、香蕉和橙子。, , .I like to eat fruit, for example apples, bananas, and oranges.
Characters
Common collocations
- 例如说for example
- 举例如to give an example such as
Origin
The word combines 例 (example/case) with 如 (like/as), literally meaning 'taking examples as' or 'as in examples.' This construction has been used in Classical Chinese and carries into modern usage.