以...为例
Reach for this when you want to introduce a concrete case to back up a general claim — 'taking X as an example.' It's a formal discourse marker that tells the reader 'here comes the evidence.' Used heavily in essays, news analysis, reports, and academic writing; rarely in casual speech, where 比如 does the same work more lightly. The example clause follows immediately, often with a comma break.
Structure
以 [SPECIFIC CASE] 为例, [STATEMENT ABOUT THE CASE]
yǐ... wéilì
How to Think About It
This is the 'exhibit A' of Chinese writing. 以...为例 doesn't add information by itself — it frames the next sentence as a deliberate illustration of the point you just made. Without a preceding general claim, it has nothing to be an example of and sounds floating.
Examples
以北京为例，这座城市的房价过去十年涨了很多。
Yǐ Běijīng wéilì, zhè zuò chéngshì de fángjià guòqù shí nián zhǎng le hěn duō.
Taking Beijing as an example, this city's housing prices have risen a lot in the past ten years.
以这家公司为例，它在两年内员工人数翻了一倍。
Yǐ zhè jiā gōngsī wéilì, tā zài liǎng nián nèi yuángōng rénshù fān le yí bèi.
Taking this company as an example, its employee count doubled within two years.
以我自己为例，我每天学习中文一个小时，进步很明显。
Yǐ wǒ zìjǐ wéilì, wǒ měitiān xuéxí Zhōngwén yí gè xiǎoshí, jìnbù hěn míngxiǎn.
Taking myself as an example, I study Chinese for an hour every day, and my progress is clear.
Common Mistake
Learners use 以...为例 as a casual 'for example,' the way they'd use 比如. It comes out stiff in conversation and misses the setup-it-needs: a preceding general statement that the example is meant to prove.
我喜欢水果，以苹果为例，它很甜。
我喜欢水果，比如苹果，它很甜。
Don't Confuse With
比如(说)
Conversational 'for example.' Use 比如 when chatting; use 以……为例 in essays and analysis where you want the example to feel deliberately chosen.
例如
Also formal, but lighter — 例如 just lists examples without setting one up as the focus. 以……为例 zooms in on ONE case to examine.
举个例子
Spoken 'let me give an example.' Casual and verbal. 以……为例 is the written, structural version.
Practice
Fill in the blank: ____ 上海 ____ ，这里的生活成本很高。
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以；为例
Fill in the blank: 以这家餐厅 ____ ，它的服务非常好。
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为例
Arrange into a sentence: 以 / 为例 / 这部 / 电影 / 它 / 很 / 受欢迎
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以这部电影为例，它很受欢迎。
Translate to Chinese: Taking electric cars as an example, their sales have grown rapidly.
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以电动汽车为例，它们的销量增长得很快。
Make a general claim, then use 以……为例 to give one supporting case.
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中国的科技公司发展很快。以华为为例，它的产品已经卖到了世界各地。
Hear It in Real Episodes
This pattern appears in 1 Fluentide episode: