Comparing "banfa" and "fangfa"

Both 办法 (bànfǎ) and 方法 (fāngfǎ) can mean "a way to do something".

Sometimes 办法 and 方法 can be used interchangeably, each with slightly different meanings and contexts.

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

The key difference between these words is 办法 emphasizes a solution (a way to solve an issue or problem), whereas 方法 emphasizes a method (a detailed plan with clear steps to do something).

Similarities

Common Phrases

The following phrases work with both 办法 and 方法, although the meaning is slightly different.

好～

• 好办法 hǎo bànfǎa good solution
• 好方法 hǎo fāngfǎa good method

• 想～

    想办法（think of a solution) vs. 想方法 (think of a plan)

• 各种～

    各种办法（all kinds of solutions) vs. 各种方法（all kinds of plans)

• 一种～

    一种办法 (one way of solving something) vs. 一种方法 (one way of doing something)

• 解决问题的～

    解决问题的办法 (the way of solving a problem) vs. 解决问题的方法 (the plan of solving a problem)

Example Sentences

In the following sentences, 办法 and 方法 both can be used interchangeably.

• Using 办法 the sentences emphasize “a solution”, using 方法 the sentences emphasize “a plan”.

Differences

Common Phrases

These phrases are most commonly used with 办法 in informal Chinese：

    没有办法, 有办法

Example Sentences

Only 办法 can be used in the following sentences:

Common Phrases

These phrases are most commonly used with 方法 in formal and informal Chinese:

    学习～, 科学～, 教学～, 看问题的～

Example Sentences

Only 方法 can be used in the following sentences: