Japanese - Lesson 40 of 168: Giving Examples

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

たとえば、___。

Tatoeba, ___.

For example, ___.

Meaning: For example, ___.

When to use: Use たとえば at the start of an example when you want to introduce a concrete case casually or neutrally. It can be followed by a noun, phrase, or full sentence.

たとえば、日本料理では魚をよく食べます。

Tatoeba, Nihon ryōri de wa sakana o yoku tabemasu.

For example, in Japanese cuisine people often eat fish.

たとえば、週末に友だちと映画を見ます。

Tatoeba, shūmatsu ni tomodachi to eiga o mimasu.

For example, I watch movies with friends on weekends.

例をあげると、___です。

Rei o ageru to, ___ desu.

For instance, ___.

Meaning: For instance, ___.

When to use: Use 例をあげると、___です。 when you want a slightly more careful or polite way to present an example. If you provide a full sentence as the example, adjust the ending naturally instead of forcing です.

例をあげると、朝はジョギングします、という習慣です。

Rei o ageru to, asa wa jogingu shimasu, to iu shūkan desu.

For instance, one habit is jogging in the morning.

例をあげると、リサイクルを増やすことが大切です。

Rei o ageru to, risaikuru o fuyasu koto ga taisetsu desu.

For instance, increasing recycling is important.

___とか

___ toka.

Like ___.

Meaning: Like ___.

When to use: Use ___とか casually after a noun or short phrase to give a quick, conversational example. For a polite alternative, use ___などです。

Tip: Beginners sometimes add です after とか (e.g. 食べますとかです); とか itself is casual and usually follows nouns or short phrases.

映画とか、コンサートとかが好きです。

Eiga toka, konsāto toka ga suki desu.

I like things like movies or concerts.

パンとかごはんとか、どちらでもいいです。

Pan toka gohan toka, dochira demo ii desu.

Bread or rice, things like that are both fine.

___とか、そういうものです。

___ toka, sō iu mono desu.

Things like ___.

Meaning: Things like ___.

When to use: Use ___とか、そういうものです。 to add one or more examples and then summarize as ‘things like that.’ It’s polite and conversational.

地元の名物は海産物とか、そういうものです。

Jimoto no meibutsu wa kaisanbutsu toka, sō iu mono desu.

Local specialties are things like seafood and so on.

アイデアは簡単な図とか、そういうものです。

Aidea wa kantan na zu toka, sō iu mono desu.

Ideas are simple diagrams and things like that.

___などです。

___ nado desu.

Such as ___.

Meaning: Such as ___.

When to use: Use ___などです。 after listing nouns or noun phrases when you want a polite or neutral way to say ‘such as’ or ‘and so on.’

Tip: Don’t confuse などです with casual とか — などです is more polite and often follows nouns.

おすすめは寿司や天ぷらなどです。

Osusume wa sushi ya tenpura nado desu.

I recommend sushi, tempura, and the like.

趣味は読書や旅行などです。

Shumi wa dokusho ya ryokō nado desu.

My hobbies are things like reading and traveling.

例をあげますね。

Rei o agemasu ne.

Let me give you an example.

Meaning: Let me give you an example.

When to use: Say 例をあげますね。 before you explain with an example; the ね keeps the tone friendly. Use it to signal that you’ll clarify with a concrete case.

例をあげますね。去年の売上を見てみましょう。

Rei o agemasu ne. Kyonen no uriage o mitemimashō.

Let me give you an example. Let’s look at last year’s sales.

例をあげますね。例えばこの表を見てください。

Rei o agemasu ne. Tatoeba kono hyō o mite kudasai.

Let me give you an example. For instance, look at this table.

例を出すと、___です。

Rei o dasu to, ___ desu.

To give you an example, ___.

Meaning: To give you an example, ___.

When to use: Use 例を出すと、___です。 to start a concrete example. If you put a full sentence in the blank, change the ending to fit natural grammar.

例を出すと、会議はいつも火曜日にあります。

Rei o dasu to, kaigi wa itsumo kayōbi ni arimasu.

To give you an example, meetings are always on Tuesdays.

例を出すと、新しい機能はユーザーに人気があります。

Rei o dasu to, atarashii kinō wa yūzā ni ninki ga arimasu.

To give an example, the new feature is popular with users.

例の一つは___です。

Rei no hitotsu wa ___ desu.

One example is ___.

Meaning: One example is ___.

When to use: Use 例の一つは___です。 when you want to present a single example among several possibilities. This highlights one clear case.

例の一つは地域イベントの成功です。

Rei no hitotsu wa chiiki ibento no seikō desu.

One example is the success of the local event.

例の一つは古い建物の保存です。

Rei no hitotsu wa furui tatemono no hozon desu.

One example is the preservation of old buildings.

___を例に考えてみましょう。

___ o rei ni kangaete mimashō.

Take ___, for example.

Meaning: Take ___, for example.

When to use: Use ___を例に考えてみましょう。 with a noun or noun phrase before を to point to a specific case you want listeners to consider.

この商品を例に考えてみましょう。

Kono shōhin o rei ni kangaete mimashō.

Let’s take this product as an example.

東京の交通を例に考えてみましょう。

Tōkyō no kōtsū o rei ni kangaete mimashō.

Let’s consider Tokyo’s transport as an example.

いい例は___です。

Ii rei wa ___ desu.

A good example is ___.

Meaning: A good example is ___.

When to use: Use いい例は___です。 when you want to introduce a strong or illustrative example. It’s simple and natural in conversation.

いい例は早めの準備です。

Ii rei wa hayame no junbi desu.

A good example is preparing early.

いい例は地元の成功事例です。

Ii rei wa jimoto no seikō jirei desu.

A good example is a local success story.

たとえば、___。

Tatoeba, ___.

To show what I mean, ___.

Meaning: To show what I mean, ___.

When to use: Use this たとえば at the start of an example when you want to make an idea clearer by adding a concrete case. It functions like the earlier たとえば but is focused on clarification.

たとえば、時間管理が上手な人は集中できます。

Tatoeba, jikan kanri ga jōzu na hito wa shūchū dekimasu.

To show what I mean: people good at time management can concentrate.

たとえば、チームでの小さな成功が大きな変化を生むことがあります。

Tatoeba, chīmu de no chiisana seikō ga ōkina henka o umu koto ga arimasu.

For example, small team successes can create big change.

たとえば、___ということです。

Tatoeba, ___ to iu koto desu.

Here's what I mean: ___.

Meaning: Here's what I mean: ___.

When to use: Use たとえば、___ということです。 to clarify a previous point by adding a concrete example or summarizing an example sentence.

たとえば、残業が多いということです。

Tatoeba, zangyō ga ōi to iu koto desu.

Here's what I mean: there is a lot of overtime.

たとえば、早起きして運動するということです。

Tatoeba, hayaoki shite undō suru to iu koto desu.

Here's what I mean: wake up early and exercise.

たとえば、___と考えてみてください。

Tatoeba, ___ to kangaete mite kudasai.

Imagine this: ___.

Meaning: Imagine this: ___.

When to use: Use たとえば、___と考えてみてください。 when you want the listener to imagine a situation. Put the imagined situation in the blank in plain form.

たとえば、夏にみんなでピクニックをすると考えてみてください。

Tatoeba, natsu ni minna de pikunikku o suru to kangaete mite kudasai.

Imagine this: in summer everyone goes on a picnic.

たとえば、会社が完全にリモートになると考えてみてください。

Tatoeba, kaisha ga kanzen ni rimōto ni naru to kangaete mite kudasai.

Imagine this: the company becomes fully remote.

Japanese - Giving Examples

1. Reading + Listening Practice

2. Conversational Listening Practice

3. Guided Practice

Which phrase is the most casual way to say 'like ...' in conversation?

Which phrase would you use to politely list items like 'apples, bananas, and so on'?

Which phrase signals politely that you are about to give an example?

Which phrase is best when you want the listener to imagine a scenario?

Let me give an example.

Fruits such as apples, bananas, and melons.

One example is data bias.

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice