Comparing "anzhao" and "genju"

Revision as of 01:35, 8 September 2021 by TomConnelly (talk | contribs)

按照 and 根据 both are prepositions that mean “according to” or “on the basis of” and many times 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)
Meaningaccording to, on the basis ofaccording to, on the basis of
Part of Speechprepositionpreposition, noun, verb
Formalityformalformal