榜样 (bǎng yàng) is the everyday word for a 'role model' — a person whose behavior is worth emulating. It is more common than 模范 (mó fàn, 'model worker') and less formal than 典范 (diǎn fàn) or 楷模 (kǎi mó), which are used in more literary or formal contexts. 表率 (biǎo shuài) specifically refers to an example set by a leader or superior.