比如 (bǐ rú) — for example, for instance, such as

Definition

比如 (bǐrú) is the everyday spoken 'for example' — used to introduce one or more examples. Like 像 and 例如, it introduces examples, but 比如 is more common in speech while 例如 sounds more formal/written.

verb

for examplefor instancesuch as

Examples

，比如，。
Hěn duō shuǐ guǒ, bǐ rú píng guǒ hé xiāng jiāo, dōu hěn hǎo chī.
Many fruits, such as apples and bananas, are delicious.
，比如。
Tā xǐ huan zuò yùn dòng, bǐ rú pǎo bù hé yóu yǒng.
He likes to do sports, for example running and swimming.
，比如。
Zhōu mò nǐ kě yǐ zuò hěn duō shì, bǐ rú kàn diàn yǐng huò zhě kàn shū.
On weekends you can do many things, such as watching movies or reading books.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

比bǐcompare

如rúlike

比 gives the idea of comparing, and 如 gives the idea of resembling, together meaning for instance.

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 →

Appears in