比如
bǐrú
Meaning
比如 introduces an example: “for example”, “for instance”. It gives a concrete case that makes an idea, thing or situation clearer.
Basic structure
比如 + example → For example, …
比如 can open a sentence or sit in the middle of one.
Giving an example
还有人说，小时候幸福是一件东西，比如一块橡皮、一块糖，得到了就很幸福。
Others say this: in childhood happiness is a thing — a rubber, say, or a sweet — and getting it makes you happy.
Making an idea clearer
每个人都有自己特别感兴趣的东西，比如，作家爱写小说，画家爱画画儿。
Everyone has something that particularly interests them. Writers, for example, love writing novels, and painters love to paint.
我们只有了解了自己的兴趣爱好后，才能更好地发展自己。
Only once we understand our own interests can we develop ourselves properly.
Listing items in a plan
旅游前最好做个计划，比如要去几个地方，怎么坐车，带哪些东西，一共要玩儿多少天等。
It's best to make a plan before travelling — how many places to visit, how to get about, what to take, how many days in all, and so on.
比如 vs. 例如
我喜欢很多运动，比如游泳、跑步和打篮球。
I like a lot of sports — swimming, running and basketball, for example.
有很多方法可以提高汉语水平，例如多听、多说、多读。
There are many ways to improve your Chinese — listening, speaking and reading more, for instance.
| 比如 | 例如 |
|---|---|
| Everyday and spoken | Formal and written |
| The usual choice in conversation | More at home in articles and documents |
Remember:
比如 = for example, for instance.
A concrete example follows it.
Very common in speech; 例如 means the same but is more formal.