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HSK 4

例如

for example; such as

conjunctionneutral
例
lì4th tone
如
rú2nd tone

HSK level

1
2
3
4
5
6
Pinyin
lìrú
Part of speech
conjunction
Level
HSK 4
Strokes
14
Register
neutral

Stroke order for 例如

例如 is written with 14 strokes (例: 8, 如: 6). The animation replays automatically.

What does 例如 mean?

例如 (lìrú) means 'for example' or 'such as' and introduces one or more illustrative cases of a general statement.

It is a conjunction built from 例 (example) and 如 (like/as), so it literally reads 'as an example.' 例如 typically sits at the start of a clause or right before the items it introduces, and it is common to follow the examples with 等 (děng, 'etc.').

Unlike English 'for example,' which floats freely mid-sentence, 例如 in careful Chinese usually leads the list rather than interrupting it. It leans written and formal; in everyday conversation native speakers reach for 比如 or 比如说 instead. Note that 例如 introduces examples, not reasons — for 'because' you need 因为, and confusing the two is a common learner slip.

Note: Slightly more formal than the spoken 比如 (bǐrú). 例如 is the default in written prose, reports, and essays; 比如 dominates casual speech.

Character by character

例lìexample; instance; case
+
如rúlike; as; such as
=
例如

Memory hook: 例 (example) + 如 (as) → 'as an example' → for example.

Example sentences

很多水果都很甜，例如西瓜和葡萄。

Hěn duō shuǐguǒ dōu hěn tián, lìrú xīguā hé pútáo.

Many fruits are sweet, for example watermelon and grapes.

neutral

这个城市有很多问题，例如交通和空气。

Zhège chéngshì yǒu hěn duō wèntí, lìrú jiāotōng hé kōngqì.

This city has many problems, such as traffic and air quality.

written

你可以做很多运动，例如跑步、游泳。

Nǐ kěyǐ zuò hěn duō yùndòng, lìrú pǎobù, yóuyǒng.

You can do many kinds of exercise, for example running and swimming.

neutral

报告里应该有具体的数据，例如去年的销售额。

Bàogào lǐ yīnggāi yǒu jùtǐ de shùjù, lìrú qùnián de xiāoshòu'é.

The report should include concrete data, such as last year's sales figures.

formal

Common phrases with 例如

例如说lìrú shuōfor example (to say)
例如以下lìrú yǐxiàsuch as the following
例如等等lìrú děngděngfor example, and so on
举例如下jǔ lì rú xiàexamples are given as follows

Synonyms

比如bǐrú

比如 is the everyday spoken equivalent and can appear mid-sentence. Use 比如 when talking; use 例如 in writing, reports, or formal explanation.

譬如pìrú

譬如 is more literary and old-fashioned than 例如. Choose 譬如 in essays or rhetorical writing; 例如 is the safe neutral choice.

Don't confuse 例如 with

如果rúguǒ

如果 means 'if' and introduces a condition. 例如 introduces an example. They share the character 如 but do opposite jobs.

例子lìzi

例子 is a noun ('an example'), so you say 举一个例子 ('give an example'). 例如 is a conjunction that leads directly into the examples themselves.

FAQ

Acquire it by listening

Meet 例如 again — in real Chinese, at your level.

Fluentide turns real news into Chinese listening at your exact level, so words like 例如 show up again and again in natural sentences — with pinyin and translation every time. No flashcards. Free to start.