(たとえば) is an adverb meaning "for example" or "for instance." It is used to introduce a specific example to illustrate or clarify a broader statement. It typically appears at the beginning of a sentence or clause, but can also appear mid-sentence.
Basic usage
is most commonly placed at the start of a sentence to present a concrete example of something just mentioned or about to be discussed.
。、。
I like Japanese food. For example, I often eat sushi and ramen.
、よう。
For example, I want to live in a big city like Tokyo or Osaka.
Mid-sentence usage
can also appear within a sentence, often set off by commas, to smoothly introduce an example as part of a longer statement.
、。
As for fruit, apples and bananas, for example, are cheap.
With ～など and ～のような
frequently pairs with **
** ("and so on") or **
よう** ("such as, like") to indicate that the examples given are not exhaustive.
、。
I like sports such as soccer and tennis, for example.
Hypothetical examples
can also be used to introduce a **hypothetical situation**, similar to "let's say" or "suppose" in English.
、、きごう？
For example, if you won the lottery, what would you do?
is used in both casual and formal speech and writing. It is one of the most common ways to provide examples in Japanese.
Lingaku