Easily confusedHSK 5

按 vs 按照 vs 根据: basis coverbs for 'according to'

The coverbs 按 (àn), 按照 (ànzhào), and 根据 (gēnjù) all translate to 'according to' but differ in what they base the statement on. 按 and 按照 are used when following a rule, procedure, or standard, while 根据 introduces an evidential basis or source of information.

All three words function as coverbs meaning 'according to', but they are not interchangeable. 按 and 按照 are nearly synonymous, with 按 being more concise and often used in set phrases, while 按照 is more formal and used with longer expressions. Both indicate compliance with a rule, standard, or procedure. 根据, on the other hand, refers to the evidential basis or source of information, such as a report or data. Choosing the wrong one can change the meaning from 'following a rule' to 'based on evidence'.

Quando usar cada um

àn
according to; by; following

Use 按 when indicating that an action follows a rule, standard, procedure, or plan. It is often used in fixed expressions and with single-character nouns, but it also appears naturally with multi-character nouns. 按 is slightly less formal than 按照 but is common in both spoken and written Chinese.

按 is often preferred in set phrases like 按时 (on time) or 按计划 (according to plan).

按照àn zhào
according to; in accordance with

Use 按照 to express following a rule, law, standard, or instruction. It is more formal and explicit than 按 and is typical with longer or more complex noun phrases, such as 按照学校的规定 (according to school regulations).

按照 can often be replaced by 按 in informal contexts, but 按 may sound unnatural with very long phrases.

根据gēn jù
based on; according to; on the basis of

Use 根据 to introduce the source, evidence, or factual basis for a statement or action. It is used with nouns like research, data, reports, or experiences. 根据 does not imply following a procedure but rather that the conclusion is drawn from information.

Unlike 按/按照, 根据 can function as a noun meaning 'basis' or 'foundation' (e.g., 有根据 'have basis').

Visão geral

按照根据
Core meaningFollowing a rule/standardFollowing a rule/standard (more formal)Based on evidence/source
FormalityNeutral to informalFormalNeutral to formal
Typical nouns单字词 (e.g. 时, 计划) or fixed phrases多字短语 (e.g. 学校的规定)来源性名词 (e.g. 报道, 数据)
Can be a noun?NoNoYes (根据 as noun: basis)

Exemplos

  • 计划完成。
    Àn jì huà wán chéng.
    Complete according to plan.
  • 按照
    按照老师的要求写作业。
    Àn zhào lǎo shī de yāo qiú xiě zuò yè.
    Do homework according to the teacher's requirements.
  • 根据
    根据天气预报,明天会下雨。
    Gēn jù tiān qì yù bào, míng tiān huì xià yǔ.
    According to the weather forecast, it will rain tomorrow.
  • 顺序排队。
    Àn shùn xù pái duì.
    Queue in order.
  • 根据
    根据这条新闻,事故没有造成伤亡。
    Gēn jù zhè tiáo xīn wén, shì gù méi yǒu zào chéng shāng wáng.
    According to this news, the accident caused no casualties.
  • 按照
    按照说明书操作。
    Qǐng àn zhào shuō míng shū cāo zuò.
    Please operate according to the manual.

Erros comuns

  • Using 根据 when following a schedule or plan (e.g., 根据计划 should be 按照计划 or 按计划).
  • Using 按 for a source of information (e.g., 按新闻 should be 根据新闻).
  • Using 按照 with very short nouns where 按 is more natural (e.g., 按照时 instead of 按时).
  • Confusing 根据 as a noun and a coverb in sentence structure.

Perguntas frequentes

When do I use 按 vs 按照?
按 and 按照 are largely interchangeable when expressing 'according to a rule/standard'. 按 is shorter and often used in fixed expressions (e.g., 按时) or with single-character nouns. 按照 is more formal and preferred with longer noun phrases. In most cases, you can use 按照 if you are uncertain.
What is the difference between 按照 and 根据?
按照 implies following a prescribed method, rule, or instruction. 根据 introduces the basis or evidence for a statement, such as a report or survey. For example, 按照规定 (according to regulations) uses 按照 because it's a rule, while 根据调查 (based on the survey) uses 根据 because it's evidence.
Can 按 be used with multi-character nouns?
Yes, 按 can be used with multi-character nouns like 按计划 (according to plan). However, it is more common with single-character nouns in fixed phrases. There is no strict syllable restriction; choose based on natural usage.