例（たと）えば (tatoeba)
例えば — “for example”
Pattern
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名詞A、例えば 名詞B（や名詞C）A, for example B (and C) -
例えば、〜At the start of a sentence: For example, ～
Meaning and position
The general category comes first and the example follows. 果物、例えばりんごやバナナ. Giving two items with や suggests there are more, not a full list.
Writing and spoken
It is written with the kanji 例えば or in hiragana たとえば; both are common. The more formal 例を挙げると has the same meaning.
Helps the listener
A general statement can be vague, so a concrete example makes it clear. Because it follows the topic naturally, it is used when explaining, persuading or giving advice.
Examples
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果物（くだもの）、例（たと）えばりんごやバナナが好（す）きです。
Kudamono, tatoeba ringo ya banana ga suki desu.
I like fruit, for example apples and bananas.
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運動（うんどう）、例（たと）えば水泳（すいえい）は体（からだ）にとてもいい。
Undō, tatoeba suiei wa karada ni totemo ii.
Exercise, for example swimming, is very good for the body.
-
甘（あま）いもの、例（たと）えばケーキやチョコレートは食（た）べすぎに注意（ちゅうい）しよう。
Amai mono, tatoeba kēki ya chokorēto wa tabesugi ni chūi shiyō.
Be careful not to overeat sweets, for example cake or chocolate.
Common mistakes
- Do not confuse it with the verb 例える (to compare). As a noun-phrase connector, it is written 例えば.
- The example must belong to the category before it. Do not give an unrelated item.
More grammar points
- ばよかった ～ばよかった — I should have ～, if only I had ～
- ばかりで ～ばかりで — only ～ (and nothing else, with a negative feeling)
- ばかりでなく ～ばかりでなく — not only ～ but also ～
- だけでなく ～だけでなく — not only ～ but also ～
- だけど だけど — but, however (casual)
- ふりをする ～ふりをする — pretending to ～
- 一方（いっぽう）だ ～一方だ — keeps ～ing in one direction
- 一体（いったい） 一体 — what on earth ～ (emphasizing a question)
- じゃない ～じゃない — isn't it ～! (surprise or confirmation)
- か何（なに）か ～か何か — ～ or something
- 代（か）わりに ～代わりに — instead of ～, in return for ～
- 結局（けっきょく） 結局 — in the end, after all
- きり ～きり — only ～; ever since ～
- っけ ～っけ — was it ～? (recalling)
- ことになっている ～ことになっている — it is the rule or plan that ～
- ことは～が ～ことは～が — it is true that ～, but ～
- くせに ～くせに — even though ～ (with reproach)
- も～ば～も A も ～ば B も ～ — both A and B
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