HSKReadyGet the appHSK 4 Fixed Phrase: How to Use 拿……来说 to Give Examples
The fixed phrase 拿……来说 (ná... lái shuō) introduces a specific person, thing, or situation as an illustrative example to support a broader point, similar to 'take... for example' in English.
很多大城市的交通很方便，拿北京来说，地铁线路非常多。
Uses 拿……来说 to pick one specific city (Beijing) to back up the general claim about big cities.
× 拿他每天早上六点起床去跑步来说。
As a standalone written statement, this introduces a topic but does not explain the point. The issue is the missing comment, not a ban on using an event as the topic. Adding 这件事 can make a longer event topic clearer.
Corrected example: 他非常重视健康，拿他每天的习惯来说，他总是早上六点起床去跑步。
Read the full explanation and examples
Core Meaning and Syllabus Scope
In the HSK 4 grammar outline (2025-11 edition with a 2026-07 implementation label), 拿……来说 is categorized under fixed formats as a fixed phrase. Note that syllabus levels describe the supplied reference outline rather than guaranteeing which exam version is administered at a specific test center.
Literally, 拿 means to take or hold, and 来说 means to speak of or discuss. Together, 拿……来说 works just like the English expression 'take... for example' or 'to take the case of...'. Speakers and writers use it after making a general observation, selecting one familiar item to prove or clarify that point.
很多大城市的交通很方便，拿北京来说，地铁线路非常多。
Uses 拿……来说 to pick one specific city (Beijing) to back up the general claim about big cities.
Sentence Structure and Natural Modifiers
A noun phrase, pronoun or time expression commonly fills the frame. A longer event can also be treated as a topic, often made explicit with 这件事: 拿他每天跑步这件事来说. The following comment explains why the example matters. In an independent written statement, include that explanation rather than leaving only a topic introduction.
In spoken and written Chinese, it is very common to add the adverb 就 before 拿, forming 就拿……来说. Adding 就 conveys 'just take... right here as an example,' signaling that the speaker does not even need to look far to find proof. You may also hear modal particles like 吧 placed right after 来说 to soften the tone.
每个人的睡眠习惯不一样，就拿我来说，我每天晚上十点就得睡觉。
Adds 就 before 拿 to casually point to oneself as an immediate example.
这儿春天的天气变化很快，拿昨天来说，上午还是晴天，下午就下起大雨来了。
Places a time noun (昨天) inside the frame, followed by two clauses explaining what happened.
Useful Contrasts: 对……来说 and 比如
Because several Chinese patterns end with 来说 or introduce examples, learners often mix them up. Separating 拿……来说 from 对……来说 and 比如 will make your writing much clearer.
- 拿……来说 versus 对……来说: Both end in 来说, but their prepositions do completely different jobs. 拿……来说 selects a sample item to illustrate a broader claim ('take X as an example'). 对……来说 identifies the person or group experiencing a judgment or feeling ('for X' or 'from X's perspective').
- 拿……来说 versus 比如: Both introduce examples. However, 比如 ('for instance') is flexible: it can list several nouns in a row or introduce a whole clause directly. 拿……来说 normally singles out one specific topic first and requires a following comment clause to explain the details.
对我来说，这道数学题太难了。
Contrast example: 对……来说 expresses personal perspective or how something affects someone, not an illustrative example.
Structural Limits and Common Learner Mistakes
A possible problem in standalone writing is ending immediately after 来说. The reader has heard which example you selected but not what it shows. In conversation, a topic introduction may pause there while the speaker continues; judge it in context.
For a clear complete model, put the example topic in the frame and its explanation afterward. The following repair adds a reason the routine matters and a complete description; it does not mean that all event-sized topics are ungrammatical.
× 拿他每天早上六点起床去跑步来说。
As a standalone written statement, this introduces a topic but does not explain the point. The issue is the missing comment, not a ban on using an event as the topic. Adding 这件事 can make a longer event topic clearer.
Corrected example: 他非常重视健康，拿他每天的习惯来说，他总是早上六点起床去跑步。
他非常重视健康，拿他每天的习惯来说，他总是早上六点起床去跑步。
Correct replacement: Keeps a noun phrase (他每天的习惯) inside 拿……来说 and puts the specific action in the following clause.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put 吧 after 拿……来说?
Yes. In spoken Chinese, speakers often say 拿……来说吧 or 就拿……来说吧 before pausing for the next clause. It softens the tone and invites the listener to consider the example.
Should I use 拿……来说 to list three or four quick examples at the end of a sentence?
No. 拿……来说 is designed to spotlight a topic and then comment on it in a subsequent clause. If you just want to attach a list of nouns at the end of a sentence, use 比如 or 例如 instead.
