Introducing an Example with 拿……来说 in Chinese
拿……来说
拿…来说 selects a person, thing, or event as a concrete example supporting a broader point. The example occupies the slot between 拿 and 来说, and the following clause states the relevant judgment. Optional 就 can highlight the choice. This is an example-framing device, not a literal sequence meaning take and speak.
Published August 5, 2026
Reviewed August 5, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
(就)拿 + Example + 来说，Comment
Read the structure
拿…来说 selects a person, thing, or event as a concrete example supporting a broader point. The example occupies the slot between 拿 and 来说, and the following clause states the relevant judgment. Optional 就 can highlight the choice. This is an example-framing device, not a literal sequence meaning take and speak. Keep the model (就)拿 + Example + 来说，Comment visible while you compare each sentence.
拿成绩来说，他一直是第一。
Take grades as an example: he has always ranked first.
Choose the right context
Introduce one representative case after a general claim. Focus a discussion on a person, object, or event. Use 就拿 to make the chosen example especially salient.
拿这件事来说，你没有做错。
Regarding this matter as an example, you did nothing wrong.
Respect the boundary
Do not reverse 拿 and 来说 around the example. Do not leave the example slot empty. Do not read 拿 literally as physically holding something.
拿来说这件事，你没有做错。
(Take to-say this matter, you did nothing wrong.)
Repair the pattern
The example follows 来说: The selected example 这件事 must be enclosed by 拿 and 来说. The example slot is empty: The construction requires an explicit case between 拿 and 来说.
拿这件事来说，你没有做错。
Use the repaired structure without changing the intended meaning.
02 / MAP
Read the Sentence
Read from left to right and notice the job performed by each part. The labels describe this example; they are not a rule that every Chinese sentence must copy.
拿成绩来说，他一直是第一。
Take grades as an example: he has always ranked first.
拿
(就)拿
This part occupies the (就)拿 position in the model pattern.
成绩
Example
This part occupies the Example position in the model pattern.
来说
来说，Comment
This part occupies the 来说，Comment position in the model pattern.
，
(就)拿
This part occupies the (就)拿 position in the model pattern.
他
Example
This part occupies the Example position in the model pattern.
一直是
来说，Comment
This part occupies the 来说，Comment position in the model pattern.
第一
(就)拿
This part occupies the (就)拿 position in the model pattern.
03 / EXAMPLES
Examples You Can Reuse
Keep the structure stable while changing the people, objects, times, or conditions. Pinyin is shown as reading support; use the Chinese sentence and translation to confirm the grammar relationship.
拿成绩来说，他一直是第一。
Take grades as an example: he has always ranked first.
拿这件事来说，你没有做错。
Regarding this matter as an example, you did nothing wrong.
就拿今天来说，天气变化很大。
Take today for example: the weather changed greatly.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Introduce one representative case after a general claim.
- Focus a discussion on a person, object, or event.
- Use 就拿 to make the chosen example especially salient.
Do not use it when
- Do not reverse 拿 and 来说 around the example.
- Do not leave the example slot empty.
- Do not read 拿 literally as physically holding something.
05 / REPAIR
Compare Right and Wrong
Compare the smallest meaningful change. Each explanation identifies a placement, scope, form, or clause relationship instead of treating the whole sentence as one undifferentiated mistake.
拿来说这件事，你没有做错。
拿这件事来说，你没有做错。
The example follows 来说
The selected example 这件事 must be enclosed by 拿 and 来说.
拿来说，他一直是第一。
拿成绩来说，他一直是第一。
The example slot is empty
The construction requires an explicit case between 拿 and 来说.
拿来说这件事，你没有做错。
The selected example 这件事 must be enclosed by 拿 and 来说.
拿来说，他一直是第一。
The construction requires an explicit case between 拿 and 来说.
06 / PRACTICE
Practice the Grammar Point
Complete three short tasks in order: judge the pattern, repair a common error, and build the sentence. Feedback is fixed and reviewed, so these activities do not use a checker allowance.
1. Judge the sentence
2. Choose the correction
3. Build the sentence
Build a complete sentence with 拿……来说.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 拿……来说. Your draft moves to the checker through this browser session, selects this grammar point as the first review focus, and waits for you to submit.
08 / QUESTIONS
Introducing an Example with 拿……来说 Questions
Can 就 appear before 拿?
Yes. 就拿…来说 makes the selected example more prominent in actual discourse.
Is this identical to 对…来说?
No. 对…来说 marks a perspective or relevance domain; 拿…来说 explicitly presents an example.
09 / SOURCES
Sources and Review Notes
These references support different parts of the lesson. GF0025-2021 supports level placement only; professional grammar works support the explanation, limits, examples, and cross-checks. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021)
Ministry of Education and State Language Commission · Ministry of Education of the PRC · 2021
Locator: Appendix A, Level 5 item 【五29】, PDF p. 226 (printed p. 220)
Places 拿…来说 at Level 5 with people, matters, and exams as examples.
Official sourceLaoshi Chinese Grammar Reference
Laoshi editorial team · Laoshi · 2026
Locator: Grammar article 318, The structure 拿…来说
Explains its example-introducing function, slot order, and optional 就.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Easy to confuse
对…来说对…来说: From Someone's Perspective
拿…来说 selects an example while 对…来说 assigns a perspective or relevance domain.
Compare
就（关涉）就: Restricting Discussion to a Topic
就 can mark a topic directly without the example-selecting verb frame.
Continue learning
主谓谓语句Topic-Comment Predicate Sentences
The chosen example establishes a discourse topic for the following comment.
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Easy to confuse
拿…来说 selects an example while 对…来说 assigns a perspective or relevance domain.