An adverb meaning "for example." Introduces a concrete example to support or illustrate a general statement.
たとえば、+ [Example]
日本語には難しい文法がある。たとえば、敬語などだ。
Nihongo ni wa muzukashii bunpō ga aru. Tatoeba, keigo nado da.
Japanese has difficult grammar. For example, keigo and so on.
たとえば introduces the specific example; 〜など = "and such / and so on"
たとえば、毎日30分運動するといいですよ。
Tatoeba, mainichi sanjuppun undō suru to ii desu yo.
For example, it would be good to exercise 30 minutes every day.
たとえば offers a concrete suggestion/example
スポーツが好きです。たとえば、テニスとか水泳とかです。
Supootsu ga suki desu. Tatoeba, tenisu toka suiei toka desu.
I like sports. For example, tennis, swimming, and so on.
たとえば introduces concrete examples; とか〜とか = non-exhaustive list
• Key Concept: たとえば is equivalent to "for example / for instance." Related: たとえ〜ても (even if...) is a separate pattern. • Note: 例えば is the kanji form.
The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones たとえば is tested against.
たとえ〜ても means "even if..." (a concessive conditional) and is unrelated in function; たとえば simply introduces an example.
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