Japanese kanji 例: example

The idea

Kanji may have Japanese-origin and Chinese-origin readings; learn each with its word. Compare 例（れい） and 例えば（たとえば）. 例 has 8 strokes; follow their order in the linked KanjiVG diagram.

Examples

• 先生せんせいが例れいを一ひとつ示しめしました。The teacher showed one example.
• 例れいを見みてから答こたえてください。Please look at the example before answering.
• 例たとえば果物くだものを持もって行いきましょう。Let’s take some fruit, for example.
• 朝あさは、例たとえば散歩さんぽをします。In the morning, for example, I go for a walk.
• この規則きそくに例外れいがいはありません。There are no exceptions to this rule.
• 今日きょうだけは例外れいがいです。Today alone is an exception.

Watch out

例 is a noun, while 例えば introduces an example in a sentence. Compare the components: 例：亻＋列／列。

Try it yourself

1. Write the reading of 例 in hiragana.

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   れい

   例 is read れい; it means example; instance. Learn the reading as part of this word.

2. Write the reading of 例えば in hiragana.

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   たとえば

   例えば is read たとえば; it means for example. Learn the reading as part of this word.

3. Fill in the missing kanji: ＿外（れいがい）.

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   例

   例 completes 例外, read れいがい; the word means exception.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 例 from memory, and read 例 and 例えば aloud. Then check the readings and meanings.