'例句' (lì jù) literally combines '例' (lì), meaning 'example' or 'precedent', and '句' (jù), meaning 'sentence' or 'clause'. Together, they form a compound noun meaning 'example sentence' — a model sentence used to illustrate how a word, phrase, or grammar point is correctly used in context. It is commonly found in textbooks, language apps, dictionaries, and classroom instruction.

This term appears frequently in Chinese language learning materials, especially when introducing new vocabulary or explaining grammatical structures like aspect particles (了, 过) or measure words. Unlike casual speech, '例句' carries an instructional, pedagogical tone — it signals that what follows is a deliberate, normative illustration rather than spontaneous conversation. Learners often encounter it in exercises asking them to 'read the example sentence' or 'make your own sentence based on the example sentence'.