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, whereas 方法 (fāngfǎ) is used in both informal and formal settings. A key difference is 办法 (bànfǎ) emphasizes a solution to a problem, while 方法 (fāngfǎ) emphasizes a method, usually to solve a problem.

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

For a solution to a problem use 办法 (bànfǎ)

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

Common Phrases

• 有 + 办法
• 没 + 办法
• 好 + 办法
• 想 + 办法

Example Sentences

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

• 有办法！
• 你有什么好办法吗？
• 你有好办法吗？
• 我有办法了！我告诉你怎么做。

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

• 没办法！
• 对不起，我没办法帮你。

好/不好 + 办法 is often used to evaluate a solution’s effectiveness.

• 这是一个好办法。
• 这个办法不好，我不想用。

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。
• 你快点想办法解决这个问题。
• 他想了很多办法，但是都没有用。

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.

Common Phrases

• 有 + 方法
• 解决问题的 + 方法
• 一种 + 方法
• 各种 + 方法
• 好/不好 + 方法

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).

• 你有好方法吗？
• 我们还没有找到解决问题的方法。
• 他想了很多方法，但是都没有用。
• 这是一个好方法。

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.

Phrases

学习 + 方法 教学 + 方法 使用 + 方法

Example Sentences

Study methods, teaching methods, or methods for using/doing something all use 方法 (fāngfǎ).

• 你的学习方法很好。
• 看了这本书，我知道了很多学习的好方法。
• 我喜欢这个老师，因为她的教学方法对我很有帮助。
• 我看了这个APP的使用方法，但是我还是不知道怎么做。