例如 (lì rú) — for example; for instance; such as | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

例如 is a written, somewhat formal way to say 'for example' — stronger than the everyday 比如. It typically follows a colon or pause, like 'for example, ...'.

verb

for examplefor instancesuch as

Examples

，例如。
Wǒ xǐ huan chī shuǐ guǒ, lì rú píng guǒ hé xiāng jiāo.
I like to eat fruit, such as apples and bananas.
，例如。
Zhōng guó yǒu hěn duō měi lì de dì fāng, lì rú běi jīng hé xī ān.
China has many beautiful places, for example Beijing and Xi'an.
，例如。
Wǒ men xué le hěn duō kè chéng, lì rú shù xué hé yīng yǔ.
We studied many subjects, such as math and English.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

例lìexample

如 means like; 例 means example, so the word points to something like the examples.

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.

亻列例

Meaning part形符xíngfú

亻Written in full as人rén

Sound part声符shēngfú

列

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

例 is built from 亻, which relates to people, and 列, which gives the sound.

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.

Appears in

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