案例

ànlì: 案例 - Case, Case Study, Example

Quick Summary

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  • 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.