HSK 4 · Function Words

比如 bǐrú “for example” in Chinese

Same in Traditional

What 比如 means

  1. for example
  2. for instance
  3. such as

How to say 比如

  • Pitch chart of the third tone: dips low then rises, 2 to 1 to 4 on the five-level scale比bǐ3rd tone, dipping
  • Pitch chart of the second tone: rises from mid to high, 3 to 5 on the five-level scale如rú2nd tone, rising

比如 in a sentence

  1. 我喜欢花，比如说，玫瑰。

    Wǒ xǐhuan huā, bǐrú shuō, méiguī.

    I like flowers – roses, for example.

    Sentence #357946 from Tatoeba · translation adapted

  2. 爬树的动物，比如猫，长有爪子。

    Pá shù de dòngwù, bǐrú māo, zhǎng yǒu zhuǎzi.

    Animals that climb trees, like cats, have claws.

    Sentence #12568677 from Tatoeba

  3. 在日本有很多美丽的城市。比如京都呀奈良等。

    Zài Rìběn yǒu hěn duō měilì de chéngshì. Bǐrú Jīngdū ya Nàiliáng děng.

    Japan has many beautiful cities. Kyoto and Nara, for example.

    Sentence #3630243 from Tatoeba · translation adapted

How 比如 is built

Each colour is one part of the character. Parts repeat across thousands of characters, so learning them makes new words easier. See all 214 in our radicals chart.

The character 比 (bǐ) with each of its parts in a different colour
比bǐto compare
  • 匕spoon · bǐ
  • 匕spoon · bǐ

Memory aidTwo people 匕 side by side: to compare.

The character 如 (rú) with each of its parts in a different colour
如rúas
  • 女woman · nǚ
  • 口mouth · kǒu

How to write 比如

比 4 strokes · 如 6 strokes

Watch the order, then press Try writing it and draw each stroke in the grid. Each stroke is checked as you go.

比如 (bǐrú) stroke order chart: each stroke of the characters in the order you write them
Stroke order chart for 比如 (bǐrú). Red marks the next stroke, so you can copy it onto paper one step at a time.

Words related to 比如

Words with 比

比bǐ · compared to比较bǐjiào · compare比赛bǐsài · sports match对比duìbǐ · to contrast比例bǐlì · proportion无比wúbǐ · incomparable比方bǐfang · example比喻bǐyù · metaphor比重bǐzhòng · proportion

Words with 如

如果rúguǒ · if例如lìrú · for example如今rújīn · nowadays不如bùrú · not equal to假如jiǎrú · if如何rúhé · how譬如pìrú · for example犹如yóurú · just like称心如意chènxīnrúyì · to be completely satisfied一如既往yìrújìwǎng · as always

More words: Particles & Connectors

按时ànshí · on time按照ànzhào · according to倍bèi · times并且bìngqiě · and不得不bùdébù · have no choice or option but to不过búguò · but不仅bùjǐn · not only (… but also)差不多chàbuduō · almost

FAQs

比如 (bǐrú) means “for example” or “for instance”. It is an HSK 4 word.
Say it bǐrú: bǐ with a 3rd tone, then rú with a 2nd tone. Press Listen at the top of this page to hear it, or Slowly to hear each tone clearly.
Yes. 比如 is written the same way in Simplified and Traditional characters.
Add a Chinese (Simplified) pinyin keyboard to your phone or computer, type biru with no tone marks or spaces, then choose 比如 from the suggestions. Typing biru into this dictionary’s search box finds it too.
比如 is an HSK 4 word in the HSK 2.0 word lists.

Turn words into conversations

A dictionary gives you the words. A native teacher shows you how to use them. Start with a free 30-minute intro call.

Book a free intro call

Sources: meaning and pinyin checked by a native Mandarin teacher against the official HSK lists. Extra meanings from CC-CEDICT (CC BY-SA 4.0). Example sentences from Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR). Character parts and stroke order from Make Me a Hanzi.