比如
Reach for 比如 when you want to introduce a specific example after a general statement — 'for example,' 'like,' 'such as.' Drop it at the start of the example clause. Works after a category statement (我喜欢水果，比如苹果、香蕉), or to open a list. Conversational and written register both. Slightly more compact than 例如 (its more formal cousin).
Structure
[GENERAL STATEMENT]，比如 [EXAMPLE(S)]
bǐrú...
How to Think About It
比如 always points backward to the category just mentioned. The listener uses the prior sentence to interpret what category the examples belong to. Without that setup, 比如 floats — 'For example, an apple' makes no sense unless you already said what 'an apple' is an example of. Always introduce the umbrella before opening 比如.
Examples
我喜欢很多运动，比如，游泳和跑步。
Wǒ xǐhuān hěn duō yùndòng, bǐrú, yóuyǒng hé pǎobù.
I like a lot of sports — for example, swimming and running.
中国有很多有名的城市，比如，北京和上海。
Zhōngguó yǒu hěn duō yǒumíng de chéngshì, bǐrú, Běijīng hé Shànghǎi.
China has many famous cities, such as Beijing and Shanghai.
学中文有很多方法，比如，看电视和听音乐。
Xué Zhōngwén yǒu hěn duō fāngfǎ, bǐrú, kàn diànshì hé tīng yīnyuè.
There are many ways to learn Chinese — for example, watching TV and listening to music.
我喜欢运动，比如跑步、游泳和打篮球。
Wǒ xǐhuan yùndòng, bǐrú pǎobù, yóuyǒng hé dǎ lánqiú.
I like sports — for example, running, swimming, and basketball.
中国有很多大城市，比如北京和上海。
Zhōngguó yǒu hěn duō dà chéngshì, bǐrú Běijīng hé Shànghǎi.
China has many big cities, like Beijing and Shanghai.
他会说几种语言，比如英文、中文和法文。
Tā huì shuō jǐ zhǒng yǔyán, bǐrú Yīngwén, Zhōngwén hé Fǎwén.
He speaks several languages, such as English, Chinese, and French.
中国有很多大城市, 比如北京和上海。
Zhōngguó yǒu hěn duō dà chéngshì, bǐrú Běijīng hé Shànghǎi.
China has many big cities, for example Beijing and Shanghai.
Common Mistake
Learners use 比如 to start a sentence with no prior context ('比如苹果是水果'), treating it like 'For instance' in English. Without a preceding category, 比如 lacks an anchor.
比如苹果是水果。
我喜欢吃水果，比如苹果。
Don't Confuse With
比如说
Spoken, looser version. Use 比如说 in conversation and podcasts; use 比如 in writing or prepared speech.
例如
More formal still — academic papers, official documents. 比如 covers most professional writing without sounding stiff.
譬如
Literary cousin. Common in essays and editorials, rare in speech. If you'd write it in a newspaper column, 譬如 fits; otherwise stick with 比如.
例如
More formal, common in writing and presentations. Use 比如 in conversation; 例如 in essays and reports.
比如说
Same meaning, slightly more conversational. Add 说 when speaking out loud — a soft filler tone.
Practice
Fill in: 我有很多爱好，____，看书和画画。
Show answer
比如
Arrange: 中国菜 / 我 / 比如 / 喜欢 / 饺子
Show answer
我喜欢中国菜，比如饺子。
Translate to Chinese: I like many fruits, for example apples and oranges.
Show answer
我喜欢很多水果，比如，苹果和橘子。
Use 比如 to introduce two examples of a hobby category.
Show answer
我有很多爱好，比如，听音乐和看电影。
我喜欢看书，___ 小说和历史书。
Show answer
比如
中国菜有很多种，比如 ___。 (any example)
Hear It in Real Episodes
This pattern appears in 6 Fluentide episodes:
比如做代码、做推理、做文字生成。
比如煤和石油。
比如写文章。(For example, writing articles.)
Related Grammar Patterns
Acquire by listening
Hear 比如 in real Chinese, not in a textbook.
Fluentide picks the next news episode at your level, so this pattern shows up again and again in real context. The transcript marks it, the audio drills it. Free to start, no card.