====== ànlì: 案例 - Case, Case Study, Example ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** anli, ànlì, 案例, Chinese case study, case in Chinese, example in Chinese, legal case, business case study, medical case, what does anli mean, 例子 vs 案例 * **Summary:** Learn the meaning and usage of **案例 (ànlì)**, a crucial Chinese word for "case" or "case study." This page breaks down how **案例** is used in professional contexts like business, law, and medicine to refer to a specific, documented instance for analysis. Discover the difference between **案例 (ànlì)** and a simple "example" (例子, lìzi), and master its use with practical sentences and cultural insights for modern China. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** ànlì * **Part of Speech:** Noun * **HSK Level:** HSK 5 * **Concise Definition:** A specific instance, example, or case used for analysis, study, or as a legal precedent. * **In a Nutshell:** Think of **案例 (ànlì)** not just as any "example," but as a "case file" or "case study." It refers to a real, detailed, and often complex situation from the past—be it a legal dispute, a business strategy, or a medical situation—that is examined to learn from. It implies a story, context, and a body of information to be analyzed. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **案 (àn):** This character originally referred to a low wooden table. It evolved to mean a "legal case," "record," or "file," likely because official documents and plans were presented on such tables for review by authorities. * **例 (lì):** This character combines the "person" radical (亻) with `列` (liè), meaning "to line up" or "arrange." Together, `例` means an "example," "precedent," or "regulation"—something established as a standard for people to follow. * When combined, **案例 (ànlì)** literally translates to a "case-example" or "record-precedent." It signifies a specific case (`案`) that is being used as an example or precedent (`例`) for study and reference. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== * **案例 (ànlì)** is a cornerstone of modern professional and academic vocabulary in China, reflecting a pragmatic, evidence-based approach to learning and decision-making. While not a traditional cultural term like `面子 (miànzi)`, its widespread use highlights the value placed on learning from concrete, proven examples. * **Comparison to "Case Study":** The Western concept of a "case study" is a very close parallel. However, in the Chinese context, a **成功案例 (chénggōng ànlì - successful case)** is often held up not just for analysis, but as a model to be emulated. There can be a stronger cultural emphasis on following a proven formula for success, which contrasts with a Western business culture that might praise "disruptive innovation" or breaking from the mold. Studying an **案例** is often about understanding a successful path in order to replicate it. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== * **案例 (ànlì)** is a formal term used in professional, academic, and serious discussions. You would not use it for a simple, everyday example. * **In Business & Marketing (商业案例):** This is one of the most common contexts. Companies analyze successful or failed marketing campaigns, business models, or management strategies as **案例**. * //e.g., "Let's analyze the Starbucks market entry case study in China." (我们来分析一下星巴克进入中国的商业**案例**。)// * **In Law (法律案例):** It refers to a legal case, especially one that sets a precedent. Lawyers and judges study past **案例** to inform their current work. * //e.g., "The lawyer cited several relevant cases from last year." (律师引用了去年的几个相关**案例**。)// * **In Education & Academics (教学案例):** Professors and teachers use **案例** to illustrate complex theories with real-world situations, making abstract concepts easier to understand. * //e.g., "Today's class will be a case study analysis." (今天的课是**案例**分析。)// * **In Medicine (医疗案例):** While `病例 (bìnglì)` refers specifically to a patient's medical record or clinical case, **医疗案例 (yīliáo ànlì)** can be used more broadly to discuss a particular medical case for teaching or research purposes. ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 这是一个非常经典的营销**案例**。 * Pinyin: Zhè shì yī ge fēicháng jīngdiǎn de yíngxiāo **ànlì**. * English: This is a very classic marketing case study. * Analysis: Here, **案例** refers to a well-known and exemplary case used for study in the field of marketing. * **Example 2:** * 老师用一个真实的**案例**来说明他的观点。 * Pinyin: Lǎoshī yòng yī ge zhēnshí de **ànlì** lái shuōmíng tā de guāndiǎn. * English: The teacher used a real-life case to illustrate his point. * Analysis: This shows the use of **案例** in an educational context to make a theory more concrete and understandable. * **Example 3:** * 通过对这个**案例**的分析,我们可以学到很多东西。 * Pinyin: Tōngguò duì zhè ge **ànlì** de fēnxī, wǒmen kěyǐ xuédào hěn duō dōngxi. * English: By analyzing this case, we can learn a lot. * Analysis: This sentence highlights the primary purpose of an **案例**: to be analyzed for learning and insight. * **Example 4:** * 这家公司的成功是一个值得我们研究的**案例**。 * Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī de chénggōng shì yī ge zhídé wǒmen yánjiū de **ànlì**. * English: This company's success is a case study worthy of our research. * Analysis: This phrase, **成功案例 (chénggōng ànlì)**, is extremely common in business contexts. * **Example 5:** * 我们必须从这些失败的**案例**中吸取教训。 * Pinyin: Wǒmen bìxū cóng zhèxiē shībài de **ànlì** zhōng xīqǔ jiàoxùn. * English: We must draw lessons from these failed cases. * Analysis: **案例** can be used for both successful and failed instances. `失败案例 (shībài ànlì)` is the counterpart to `成功案例`. * **Example 6:** * 律师正在查找可以支持他论点的法律**案例**。 * Pinyin: Lǜshī zhèngzài cházhǎo kěyǐ zhīchí tā lùndiǎn de fǎlǜ **ànlì**. * English: The lawyer is searching for legal cases that can support his argument. * Analysis: This demonstrates the specific legal context of **案例**, where it functions as a precedent. * **Example 7:** * 你能给我举一个具体的**案例**吗? * Pinyin: Nǐ néng gěi wǒ jǔ yī ge jùtǐ de **ànlì** ma? * English: Can you give me a concrete case/example? * Analysis: A common way to ask for a more detailed, real-world example, rather than just a hypothetical one. * **Example 8:** * 这本书包含了很多有趣的社会学**案例**研究。 * Pinyin: Zhè běn shū bāohánle hěn duō yǒuqù de shèhuìxué **ànlì** yánjiū. * English: This book contains many interesting sociological case studies. * Analysis: The term `案例研究 (ànlì yánjiū)` is the direct and formal translation for "(a) case study" as a research method. * **Example 9:** * 这个**案例**的特殊性在于它的复杂程度。 * Pinyin: Zhè ge **ànlì** de tèshūxìng zàiyú tā de fùzá chéngdù. * English: The special nature of this case lies in its level of complexity. * Analysis: This sentence emphasizes that an **案例** is often something with depth and complexity, not a simple example. * **Example 10:** * 每个**案例**都需要我们进行独立思考和判断。 * Pinyin: Měi ge **ànlì** dōu xūyào wǒmen jìnxíng dúlì sīkǎo hé pànduàn. * English: Every case requires us to think and judge independently. * Analysis: This reflects the use of the case method in teaching, where students are expected to analyze and form their own conclusions. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * The most common mistake for learners is confusing **案例 (ànlì)** with **例子 (lìzi)**. They both can be translated as "example," but their usage is very different. * **`案例 (ànlì)` = Case Study / Detailed Instance** * Formal, complex, and detailed. * Has a narrative, context, and data. * Used for deep analysis, research, or as a precedent. * Think: a business school case study, a legal case, a documented medical history. * **`例子 (lìzi)` = Simple Example / Illustration** * Informal, simple, and general. * Used to quickly illustrate a point. * Think: "Fruits, for example (e.g., 比如), apples and bananas..." * **Incorrect Usage:** * //我喜欢很多运动,一个**案例**是篮球。// (Wǒ xǐhuān hěn duō yùndòng, yī ge **ànlì** shì lánqiú.) * **Why it's wrong:** Listing basketball as a simple example of a sport is a job for `例子`. Using `案例` here is like saying "I like many sports, one case study is basketball," which sounds strange and overly formal. * **Correct Usage:** * //我喜欢很多运动,举个**例子**,比如篮球。// (Wǒ xǐhuān hěn duō yùndòng, jǔ ge **lìzi**, bǐrú lánqiú.) * English: I like many sports, for example, basketball. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[例子]] (lìzi) - The most common word for a simple "example" or "instance." It's used to illustrate a point in general conversation and is much less formal than `案例`. * [[案件]] (ànjiàn) - Refers specifically and exclusively to a legal case (criminal or civil). While a legal `案件` can be studied as an `案例`, `案件` refers to the actual case itself within the legal system. * [[病例]] (bìnglì) - A patient's medical record or a clinical case. It's the specific medical equivalent of a "case file." * [[范例]] (fànlì) - A model example, a perfect or standard specimen to be imitated. A highly successful `案例` might be presented as a `范例`. * [[实例]] (shílì) - A real, actual instance or a concrete example. It emphasizes that the example is not hypothetical but actually happened. * [[先例]] (xiānlì) - A precedent; an earlier event or action that serves as a guide or example for future situations, especially in law or policy. * [[分析]] (fēnxī) - To analyze. This verb is very frequently paired with `案例`, as in `案例分析 (ànlì fēnxī)` - case analysis. * [[研究]] (yánjiū) - To research or study. Often paired to form `案例研究 (ànlì yánjiū)` - case study research.