Comparing "anzhao" and "genju"

按照 and 根据 both are prepositions that mean “according to” or “on the basis of” and many times when used in this sense can be used interchangeably. Both are used in formal settings. A key difference between these two is 按照 is used to do something “up to standard” or “correctly” according to a certain principle, whereas 根据 is used as the basis for the way something is or the reason something is done. From a grammar point of view, 根据 is also distinguishable in the fact that it is also a noun and a verb.

	按照 (ànzhào)	根据 (gēnjù)
Meaning	according to, on the basis of	according to, on the basis of
Part of Speech	preposition	preposition
Formality	formal	formal