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 xiǎng bànfǎ think of a solution
• 想方法 xiǎng fāngfǎthink of a plan

各种～

• 各种办法 gè zhǒng bànfǎ all kinds of solutions
• 各种方法 gè zhǒng fāngfǎ all kinds of plans

一种～

• 一种办法 yī zhǒng bànfǎ one way of solving something
• 一种方法 yī zhǒng fāngfǎ one way of doing something

解决问题的～

• 解决问题的办法 jiějué wèntí de bànfǎ the way of solving a problem
• 解决问题的方法 jiějué wèntí de fāngfǎ the plan of solving a problem

Example Sentences

In the following sentences, both 办法 and 方法 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：

没办法

• 没办法 méi bànfǎ nothing can be done to solve a problem

有办法

• 有办法yǒu bànfǎ there is a way to solve a problem

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: