Comparing "banfa" and "fangfa"

Both 办法 (bànfǎ) and 方法 (fāngfǎ) are commonly used nouns that mean "a way to do something". 办法 (bànfǎ) is used in informal settings feels slightly more specific, whereas 方法 (fāngfǎ) is used in both informal and formal settings and feels a little more abstract. A key difference is that 办法 (bànfǎ) emphasizes a solution to a problem, while 方法 (fāngfǎ) emphasizes a method.

B1HSK4ASV4567

	办法 (bànfǎ)	方法 (fāngfǎ)
Meaning	emphasizes a solution	emphasizes a method
Part of Speech	noun	noun
Formality	informal	flexible

:Yes

For a solution to a problem use 办法 (bànfǎ)

This one is pretty clear, 办法 (bànfǎ) means a solution, the specific way to solve an issue or problem. 办法 (bànfǎ) is often used in set phrases, commonly to show there is or is not a solution to a problem.

Common Phrases

• 有 办法 yǒu bànfǎ there is a way to solve a problem
• 没 办法 méi bànfǎ bànfǎ nothing can be done to solve a problem
• 好 办法 hǎo bànfǎ a good solution
• 想 办法 xiǎng bànfǎ think of a solution

Example Sentences

有办法 is often used to show there is a solution to solve a problem.

• 他 有 办法！ Tā yǒu bànfǎ !He has an idea!
• 你 有 什么 办法 ？ Nǐ yǒu shénme bànfǎ ?What can you do?
• 我 有 办法 了！我 告诉 你 怎么 做。 Wǒ yǒu bànfǎ le! wǒ gàosu nǐ zěnme zuò.I have an idea! I'll tell you what to do.

没办法 is often used to show there is no solution to solve a problem.

• 没 办法！ méi bànfǎ !No way!
• 对不起，我 没 办法 帮 你。 Duìbuqǐ, wǒ méi bànfǎ bāng nǐ.Sorry, I can't help you.

好办法 is often used to identify a good solution.

• 这 是 一 个 好 办法。 Zhè shì yī gè hǎo bànfǎ .This is a good solution.
• 这 不 是 一 个 好 办法，我 不 想 用。 Zhè bù shì yī gè hǎo bànfǎ , wǒ bù xiǎng yòng.It's not a good idea, I don't want to use it.
• 你 有 什么 好 办法 吗？ Nǐ yǒu shénme hǎo bànfǎ ma?Do you have any good ideas?

想办法 is often used to describe the need to think of a solution to a problem.

• 他 给 你 想 了 很多 办法。 Tā gěi nǐ xiǎng le hěn duō bànfǎ .He has a lot of ideas for you.
• 你 快 点 想 办法 解决 这个 问题。 Nǐ kuài diǎn xiǎng bànfǎ jiějué zhège wèntí.You need to figure out how to solve this problem.
• 他 想 了 很多 办法，但是 都 不 好。 Tā xiǎng le hěn duō bànfǎ , dànshì dōu bù hǎo.He has thought of a lot of solutions, but they are not good.

For a method to solve a problem use 方法 (fāngfǎ)

方法 (fāngfǎ) is often used in set phrases to show there is or is not a method to solve a problem. This may be more abstract in nature.

Common Phrases

• 好 方法 hǎo fāngfǎ a good method
• 各种 方法 gè zhǒng fāngfǎ all kinds of methods
• 解决 问题 的 方法 jiějué wèntí de fāngfǎ the method of solving a problem

Example Sentences

To describe a situation in which you have a method to solve a problem or to evaluate a method’s effectiveness use 方法 (fāngfǎ).

• 这 是 一个 好 方法。 Zhè shì yī gè hǎo fāngfǎ .That's a good way to do it.
• 各种 方法 我 都 用 了，但是 我 还是 打不开 我的 手机。 Gè zhǒng fāngfǎ wǒ dōu yòng le, dànshì wǒ háishì dǎ bù kāi wǒ de shǒujī.I've tried everything, but I still can't open my phone.
• 我们 还 没有 找到 解决 问题 的 方法。 Wǒmen hái méiyǒu zhǎodào jiějué wèntí de fāngfǎ .We haven't found a solution to the problem.

To describe an academic or step-by-step methodology to gain knowledge use 方法 (fāngfǎ)

方法 (fāngfǎ) can also be used to describe a method to understand something by means of study, because of a teaching style, or by using study/aid materials. This use is a bit different from other uses of 方法 (fāngfǎ) as it is not in direct relation to a problem.

Common Phrases

• 学习 方法 xuéxí fāngfǎ study method
• 教学 方法 jiàoxué fāngfǎ teaching method
• 使用 方法 shǐyòng fāngfǎ method of use

Example Sentences

Study methods, teaching methods, or methods for using/doing something all use 方法 (fāngfǎ). Note that many of these are going to naturally be quite abstract.

• 你 的 学习 方法 很好。 Nǐ de xuéxí fāngfǎ hěn hǎo.Your approach to learning is good.
• 我们 会 找到 解决 方法。 Wǒmen huì zhǎodào jiějué fāngfǎ .We will find a solution.
• 看 了 这 本 书，我 知道 了 很多 学习 的 好 方法。 Kàn le zhè běn shū, wǒ zhīdào le hěn duō xuéxí de hǎo fāngfǎ .I learned a lot of good ways to learn from reading this book.
• 我 喜欢 这个 老师，因为 她 的 教学 方法 对 我 很 有 帮助。 Wǒ xǐhuan zhège lǎoshī, yīnwèi tā de jiàoxué fāngfǎ duì wǒ hěn yǒu bāngzhù.I like this teacher because her teaching methods are very helpful to me.
• 你 觉得 节食 和 运动 一起 的 减肥 方法 好 吗？ Nǐ juéde jiéshí hé yùndòng yīqǐ de jiǎnféi fāngfǎ hǎo ma?Do you think diet and exercise together is a good way to lose weight?
• 我 看 了 这个 APP 的 使用 方法，但是 我 还是 不 知道 怎么 做。 Wǒ kàn le zhège APP de shǐyòng fāngfǎ , dànshì wǒ háishì bù zhīdào zěnme zuò.I read how to use this app, but I still don't know how to do it.