

Sign up
Here's how it works:
  1. Anybody can ask a question
  2. Anybody can answer

根据 and 按照 can both function as a preposition that can be translated as according to. I imagine that the translation does not capture the individual character of each term. What nuances do the two individual terms express and in what situation/context would you use one rather than the other?

share|improve this question
actually, it is almost the same. - 根据 sounds more official - 按照 sounds more unofficial – user3729 Dec 27 '13 at 13:42
This does not provide an answer to the question. To critique or request clarification from an author, leave a comment below their post - you can always comment on your own posts, and once you have sufficient reputation you will be able to comment on any post. – NS.X. Jan 14 '14 at 0:14
up vote 4 down vote accepted

根据 is more formal, and preferably used when speaking about doing something according to some serious guidelines. Like following a law.

按照 is less formal, and can be used when doing something according to some less serious guide. Like following a person's idea.


In accordance with the new law, all elementary school teachers must...

At our home we are accustomed that kids go to sleep at 9pm.
share|improve this answer
As a native Chinese speaker, it seems right. But there is some wrong I cannot tell... I don't know.. – einverne Dec 23 '13 at 6:36
I guess the point missed is that you can say 按照这个计划做 but not 根据这个计划做... – user58955 Dec 23 '13 at 20:14
I agree with the above, see my answer – user238264 Dec 23 '13 at 20:28

As a verb, 根据 simply means "based on". For example:

根据我的直觉(the basis)，他应该是一名教师。
Based on my intuition, he should be a teacher. (direct translation)
My intuition tells me that he is a teacher.

As a noun, 根据 is the "basis of something". For example:

What you have expressed is just your personal opinion, there is no basis whatsoever.

按照 can only be used as a verb. It means "in accordance to/with", or more specifically, "as directed or required by" something, which could be a rule, a tradition, a law, a set of instructions, etc. For example:

按照刑事法典第304（a）节条文(the rule)对误杀罪的刑罚规定，一旦罪名成立，可被判终身监禁，或坐牢最长20年，并可另加罚款或打鞭。
In accordance with the Criminal Code, Section 304(a) provisions for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, whoever convicted, may be sentenced to life imprisonment, or imprisonment of up to 20 years, and may also be liable to a fine or caning.

As seen from the examples above and contrary to some answers, 按照 can also be used formally and 根据 informally. So, the formality is not really an issue. When used as verbs for the purpose of comparison, 按照 must be followed by a rule or direction, whereas 根据 must be followed by a basis.

If the rule forms the basis of a decision, then 根据 can be used. For example:

根据校方规定(rule as a basis)，经过授权的学生可以自由进入实验室。
Based on the rules set by the [school] authority, students who have been authorized can enter the lab freely.

share|improve this answer

One point that has been missed is that 根据 also has the use of "according to [source of information]", e.g.

  • 根据［新闻社／政府部门／等］星期一发布的统计，什么什么什么.

This use appears frequently in news articles.

Source: internship at the EVIL People's Daily.

share|improve this answer

根据 means you can find the rules, ordinance etc in written format or published. 按照 means you may follow some rules, conventions that are not necessarily in written format

share|improve this answer

No much difference in daily use, but in formal text, 根据 is prefer. And 根据 also can be a noun (example: 你有什么根据？) which means "the reason or source for".

share|improve this answer

根据 has more a "by..." feeling in English, which gives a stronger sense of sureness. 按照 has a more "according to..." feeling, which is used more in colloquial setting. But in most cases, these two are interchangeable, but used of 根据 is rare in daily conversation as a preposition (mostly only "据" or "照", e.g. 据/照他说...). Note that 根据 can also be used as a noun, but 按照 cannot. e.g. 这事没有根据 (This thing comes out of thin air).

share|improve this answer
Do you have a source, or is this based on observations on the way people talk? Because even native speakers make mistakes with fine distinctions (consider affect/effect and imply/infer in English). – user238264 Dec 23 '13 at 3:43

According to 现代汉语虚词词典:

根据 - （介词） 介绍得出某种论断的依据。介词短语可以修饰主谓短语。

按照 - （介词） 表示动作行为遵从莫一标准。

So, in actuality, the times when they are completely interchangeable (meaning not just that the sentence would make sense, but that it would also have the same meaning) would appear to be relatively rare, even though they translate to roughly the same thing in English. 按照 introduces a principle or formula according to which an action is carried out, while 根据 introduces the grounds on which some conclusion, decision, or judgement rests.

share|improve this answer

Your Answer


