“tatoeba / gutaiteki ni iu to” — For Example / Specifically [JLPT N3]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

How to give examples naturally — “for example…,” “to be specific…” — with examples and practice. (JLPT N3)

「果物が好き。たとえば、りんごやみかん」 — 「たとえば」, for example, specifically

「果物が好きです。たとえば、りんごやみかんです」 (I like fruit. For example, apples and oranges) — 「たとえば」 is used to give a concrete example after an abstract statement: “for example ~.” It's a bridge that “grounds” abstract talk into visible examples. This guide covers 「たとえば／具体的に言うと」's example-giving function, and separates it from 「つまり (in other words)／ちなみに (by the way)／なぜなら (because)」.

Core: “ground” abstract talk into a visible example

The function of 「たとえば」 is an “abstract→concrete” bridge — after a general, abstract statement (likes fruit, has many merits), it gives a concrete example so it clicks instantly:

• Giving an example: 趣味があります。たとえば、読書や旅行です (I have hobbies. For example, reading and travel).
• 具体的に言うと (specifically): 問題を具体的に言うと、コストが高い (specifically, the problem is that cost is high).

Feel: “for example …, specifically …” — using an example to make the abstract clear.

Uses at a glance

See it in context

• 趣味があります。たとえば、読書や旅行です。(I have hobbies. For example, reading and travel.) — an example
• 日本にはいい所がたくさんある。たとえば、京都だ。(Japan has many nice places. For example, Kyoto.) — an example
• 問題点を具体的に言うと、コストが高すぎます。(Specifically, the problem is the cost is too high.) — making concrete
• 健康にいい習慣、たとえば早寝早起きを心がけよう。(Healthy habits — for example, early to bed and early to rise — are worth minding.) — an example
• 例を挙げると、この方法は多くの企業で使われている。(To give an example, this method is used by many companies.) — an example

⚠️ Where learners slip up

① 「たとえば」 can only take an ‘example,' not cause/conclusion. What follows たとえば is always a concrete example of the preceding content (fruit→apple); ✗ 努力した。たとえば、合格した (this is the cause-effect “effort→passing,” not an example — wrong). For cause-effect use 「だから／その結果」; たとえば is only for “giving an example.”

② 「たとえば」 (giving an example) vs 「つまり」 (in other words, summing up). たとえば = giving a concrete example (abstract→concrete, A e.g. a) (果物、たとえばりんご); つまり = in other words, that is (summing up or rephrasing, A つまり B, A = B) (つまり、これは無理ということだ = in other words, this is impossible). たとえば “gives one example,” つまり “rephrases/sums up” — don't confuse them.

③ 「たとえば」 (giving an example) vs 「ちなみに」 (by the way). たとえば = an example of ‘the preceding content' (on-topic); ちなみに = ‘related but secondary' supplementary info (a digression) (ちなみに、この店は日曜休みです = by the way, this shop is closed Sundays). たとえば “explains the topic with an example,” ちなみに “adds tangential related info.”

🔄 Compare: たとえば／つまり／ちなみに／なぜなら

💡 The one thing to remember

「たとえば」 is the most common and useful conjunction for explaining, writing, and giving evidence, at its core an “abstract→concrete bridge” — after an abstract concept, give a concrete example so it clicks instantly (果物が好き→たとえばりんご, いい習慣→たとえば早寝早起き). 「具体的に言うと (specifically)」「例を挙げると (to give an example)」 are its synonymous variants. Three points: ① it only takes an ‘example,' not cause-effect (✗ 努力した。たとえば合格した); ② separate it from 「つまり (in other words, sum up)」 — たとえば gives an example (A e.g. a), つまり rephrases (A that is B); ③ separate it from 「ちなみに (by the way)」 — たとえば gives an on-topic example, ちなみに is a tangential supplement. To make abstract talk clear, giving an example with たとえば is the most effective.

❓ Questions you might have

Q: How do I tell 「たとえば」 from 「つまり」?

Completely different functions: one “gives an example,” the other “rephrases/sums up.” 「たとえば」 = give a concrete example (abstract→concrete, A ‘for example' a, b): 果物が好きです。たとえば、りんごやバナナです (I like fruit. For example, apples and bananas — concrete fruits as examples), 電子機器、たとえばスマホやパソコン (electronics, for example phones and PCs). It's “from a broad category, give one or two concrete examples.” 「つまり」 = in other words, that is (summing up or rephrasing, A ‘つまり' B, A and B are the same thing): 彼は約束を破った。つまり、信用できない人だ (he broke his promise; in other words, he's not trustworthy — summing up into one line), 月曜が祝日、つまり三連休だ (Monday is a holiday; that is, a three-day weekend). It's “rephrasing/summing up the preceding.” So: “give one concrete example” → たとえば; “in other words, sum up” → つまり. Simply: たとえば = give an example (a category → a concrete instance); つまり = rephrase (restate/summarize the preceding).

Q: What can follow 「たとえば」? Can it take cause-effect?

What follows 「たとえば」 can only be a ‘concrete example' of the preceding content — not cause-effect or a conclusion. Correct: the preceding is abstract/general, and what follows is a concrete example belonging to it (same category): スポーツが好き。たとえば、サッカーやテニス (I like sports. For example, soccer and tennis — soccer/tennis are examples of “sports”), 便利な道具、たとえば電子レンジ (handy tools, for example a microwave). Wrong: ✗ 一生懸命勉強した。たとえば、合格した (studied hard → passed, this is cause-effect, not an example — wrong) — that needs 「だから・その結果 (so, as a result)」. Test: what follows たとえば must be “a concrete instance of the preceding category/concept” (A e.g. an a belonging to A), not “the result/cause of the preceding.” So 「果物、たとえばりんご」 is fine (apple is an example of fruit), 「努力した、たとえば合格した」 is wrong (passing is the result of effort, not an example). Mnemonic: たとえば = “give a same-category concrete example,” not for cause-effect.

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「果物が好きです。___、りんごやみかんです。」(I like fruit. For example, apples and oranges.)

(A) たとえば　(B) ところが　(C) それでは　(D) つまり

Q2. 「問題点を___言うと、コストが高すぎます。」(To be specific, the problem is that the cost is too high.)

(A) 具体的に　(B) 一般的に　(C) 結果的に　(D) 全体的に

Q3. Which correctly describes the use of 「例を挙げると」?

(A) Giving a concrete example to explain the preceding content

(B) Showing the final conclusion

(C) Showing a cause/reason

(D) Showing a topic shift

Q4. In which situation is 「たとえば」 most often used?

(A) Giving a concrete example after an abstract explanation

(B) When starting to write a text

(C) When expressing gratitude

(D) When switching to another topic

Q5. Which sentence uses 「たとえば」 unnaturally?

(A) 趣味があります。たとえば、読書や旅行です。

(B) 有名な都市が多い。たとえば、東京や大阪だ。

(C) 一生懸命努力した。たとえば、合格した。　(D) 飲み物、たとえばお茶やコーヒーはいかがですか。

Answer Explanations

1. (A) たとえば ── giving a concrete example (りんごやみかん) to illustrate the preceding abstract statement (果物).

2. (A) 具体的に ── 「具体的に言うと」 = to put it concretely.

3. (A) Giving a concrete example to explain the preceding content ── 例を挙げると = for example.

4. (A) ── 「たとえば」 is used to give a concrete example after an abstract statement.

5. (C) ── 「努力した→合格した」 is a cause-and-effect relationship, not an example; 「たとえば」 can only be used to give examples.