Japanese course

Lesson 170 of 240

New here? This is lesson 170 of a free 240-lesson Japanese course.

Start hereHow this works

For example in Japanese

Goro tries to explain a kissa breakfast and starts with toast. He stares at the slice, then loses the thread.

Masako cuts in with a clearer case: the morning set. That is the example that actually helps.

You will flag an example, give a familiar one, and get specific.

These lines keep a point from floating away.

By the end of this lesson

Give an example to explain a point.

  • たとえば、___。For example, ___.
  • 具体例(ぐたいれい)をあげると、___です。A concrete example is ___.
  • 例(れい)をあげますね。Let me give you an example.
  • 身近(みじか)な例(れい)だと、___です。A familiar example is ___.
  • たとえば、こういうことです。Here’s what I mean.
  • 具体的(ぐたいてき)に言(い)うと、モーニングです。Specifically, the morning set.

Scene — toast in the booth

Late morning at Kissa Hotaru. Leo sits in the booth with a question about the morning set. Goro's blend coffee is still full.

Thick buttered toast waits on Goro's plate. Masako wipes a cup at the wooden counter and listens.

Leo sits across from Goro in the booth while Masako wipes a cup at the counter.

Learn — give an example

Six lines help you give an example without stalling.

You will open with for example, then name a familiar case when the first try wanders.

  1. Leo gestures toward Goro’s untouched toast as he asks for an example.

    たとえば、___。

    For example, ___.

    When to use it: Use this to start a point with a short example.

    After たとえば, say the example; do not leave the phrase unfinished.

  2. Masako pauses with a cup in hand and listens toward the booth.

    具体例(ぐたいれい)をあげると、___です。

    A concrete example is ___.

    When to use it: Use this when you want one concrete case.

    を marks the example you raise.

  3. Masako sets the cup down and lifts one hand to begin an example.

    例(れい)をあげますね。

    Let me give you an example.

    When to use it: Use this just before you give an example.

    ね makes the line a friendly heads-up.

  4. Goro indicates the thick buttered toast as a familiar example while Leo watches.

    身近(みじか)な例(れい)だと、___です。

    A familiar example is ___.

    When to use it: Use this for an example from everyday life.

    だと presents that familiar case as your example.

  5. Masako presents the coffee and toast while Leo watches from the booth.

    たとえば、こういうことです。

    Here’s what I mean.

    When to use it: Use this to pin down what you meant.

    こういうこと points at the example you already gave.

    Say it: Keep こう long; do not shorten it to こ.

  6. Masako gestures beside the coffee saucer and toast as Leo follows her explanation.

    具体的(ぐたいてき)に言(い)うと、モーニングです。

    Specifically, the morning set.

    When to use it: Use this to name the exact thing at last.

    言うと introduces what you mean in plain, specific terms.

    Say it: Hold the long モー in モーニング.

Story — lost in toast

Goro starts an example and gets lost in toast. Masako names the morning set instead.

Highlighted phrases are the new lines. Turn on Show English if you want a gloss.

  1. Late morning in the booth. Goro's coffee sits untouched.
  2. Leoモーニングは何(なん)ですか。What is the morning set?
  3. Masakoトーストやコーヒーなどのセットですよ。It's a set with toast, coffee, and the like.
  4. Leo例(たと)えば、どんなものですか。Like what, for example?
  5. Goro例(れい)をあげますね。Let me give you an example.
  6. Goroたとえば、トーストです。For example, toast.
  7. Goro studies the thick toast and loses the thread.
  8. Goroええと、厚(あつ)いですね。Um, it's thick, isn't it.
  9. Masakoゴローさん、トーストの話(はなし)ですよ。Goro, that's a toast story.
  10. Goro身近(みじか)な例(れい)だと、バタートーストです。A familiar example is buttered toast.
  11. Masako具体例(ぐたいれい)をあげると、モーニングです。A concrete example is the morning set.
  12. Leoたとえば、こういうことです。Here's what I mean.
  13. Masako具体的(ぐたいてき)に言(い)うと、モーニングです。Specifically, the morning set.
  14. Leoなるほど。That makes sense.
  15. Leoモーニングをお願(ねが)いします。The morning set, please.
  16. Goroバタートーストをください。Buttered toast, please.
  17. Masakoもうありますよ。You already have some.

Practice — pick a fitting example

Ten short tasks mix listening, gaps, and building a line.

Each one checks whether the example you give actually fits.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. What do you say?

    Start a point with the frame that begins たとえば.

  3. Fill the gap

    Let me give you an example.

    例(れい)____あげますね。

  4. What does it mean?

    具体例(ぐたいれい)をあげると、___です。

  5. What does it mean?

    身近(みじか)な例(れい)だと、___です。

  6. Build the line

    Specifically, the morning set.

    、。

    Tap the words in order.

  7. Swap the word

    You want the specific example to be the morning set.

    具体的(ぐたいてき)に言(い)うと、____です。

  8. Find the mistake

  9. What do you say?

    Ask what kind of thing it is, for example.

  10. True or false?

    This line orders the morning set.

Say it — your turn to speak

You are Leo in the booth. When the cue is yours, tap the microphone and give the example.

Tap play first if you want to hear it. The recording stays on this device.

  1. Masako何(なん)か例(れい)をあげて説明(せつめい)してください。Please explain with an example.
  2. Leo (you)Offer to give an example.

    例(れい)をあげますね。

    Let me give you an example.

0 of 3 said

Recap — what you can say now

JapaneseEnglish
たとえば、___。For example, ___.
具体例(ぐたいれい)をあげると、___です。A concrete example is ___.
例(れい)をあげますね。Let me give you an example.
身近(みじか)な例(れい)だと、___です。A familiar example is ___.
たとえば、こういうことです。Here’s what I mean.
具体的(ぐたいてき)に言(い)うと、モーニングです。Specifically, the morning set.
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Keep these example lines in your pocket. Open the Yak Cards for this lesson and run them on the train.

A short Yak Cards round keeps for example ready when a point needs a case.

Open Yak Cards