for example, for instance, for one
Verb or い-Adjective (Informal) +
This formation attaches directly to the informal form of verbs and い-adjectives to introduce an approximate quote of words or ideas, meaning 'something like' or 'things like'.
Verb (Informal) +
Used with informal verbs to quote an action or event vaguely.
彼は仕事を辞める
He said something like he was going to quit his job.
い-Adjective (Informal) +
Used with informal い-adjectives to quote a state or feeling vaguely.
そのパソコンが高い
I thought something along the lines of that computer being expensive.
This structure is a combination of the word for 'such as' or 'etc.' and the quotation particle. Because of this, it is almost always followed by verbs related to speaking, hearing, or thinking, such as 言う (to say), 聞く (to hear), or 思う (to think).
な-Adjective stem or Noun + だ / だった +
For nouns and な-adjectives, the informal copula だ or its past tense form だった must be added before attaching the grammar point to form the approximate quote.
な-Adjective stem + だ / だった +
Attaches to a な-adjective stem followed by the informal copula to vaguely quote a characteristic or state.
その計画が無理だ
Who said something like that plan being impossible?
Noun + だ / だった +
Attaches to a noun followed by the informal copula to vaguely quote a concept, fact, or identity.
それが嘘だった
I cannot believe something like it having been a lie.
Be careful not to attach this directly to nouns or な-adjective stems without the copula. It requires the informal state-of-being to make a complete quoted clause before the quotation particle.