比如说 (bǐ rú shuì) — for example, for instance

Definition

A colloquial set phrase meaning 'for example / for instance', used in speech and writing to introduce an example. More conversational than the written 比如, and stronger than the conjunction 像 ('like, such as').

verb

for examplefor instance

Examples

，比如说。
Wǒ xǐ huan chī shuǐ guǒ, bǐ rú shuì píng guǒ hé xiāng jiāo.
I like to eat fruits, for example apples and bananas.
，比如说。
Hěn duō dì fāng dōu yǒu měi lì de fēng jǐng, bǐ rú shuì guì lín.
Many places have beautiful scenery, for example Guilin.
，比如说。
Nǐ kě yǐ xué xí yì mén xīn jì néng, bǐ rú shuì biān chéng.
You can learn a new skill, for instance programming.

Origin

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

匕匕bǐ
匕匕bǐ

比 is two 匕 placed side by side. Chu Wan-li treats both as sound parts, while an old reading takes the side-by-side arrangement as putting things next to each other.

Open 比 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

女口如

Meaning part形符xíngfú

口口kǒumouth

Sound part声符shēngfú

女

女nǚ如rú

Same sound today

如 is built from 口 (mouth) for its meaning and 女 (woman) for its sound.

Open 如 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.