比如 / 比如说 / 比方说【bǐrú / bǐrú shuō / bǐfang shuō】

比如, 比如说 and 比方说 put an example after a general statement. They go in front of the example, where English "for example" or "such as" would go.

Which one to use

比如 is the all-purpose choice and can sit mid-sentence before a list. 比如说 and 比方说 are spoken, and usually open a clause of their own. 例如 is the written one, found in textbooks and instructions.

比如说 and 比方说 also work like English "say" when you float a suggestion.

A list of examples often closes with 等 or 什么的: 比如苹果、香蕉什么的.

Always before the example

English can put "for example" after the example. 比如 can't move there.

• × 我喜欢吃水果，苹果比如 → 我喜欢吃水果，比如苹果
• × 很多城市，上海比如说，都很大 → 很多城市，比如说上海，都很大

To give one example at length after a claim, 拿…来说 is the pattern.