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 meaning and context.

	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 bànfǎ a good solution
• 好 方法 hǎo fāngfǎ a good method

想～

想办法可以说，但是想方法有点奇怪

• 想 办法 xiǎng bànfǎ think of a solution
• 想 方法 xiǎng fāngfǎ think of a method

各种～

• 各种 办法 gè zhǒng bànfǎ all kinds of solutions
• 各种 方法 gè zhǒng fāngfǎ all kinds of methods

一种～

• 一种 办法 yī zhǒng bànfǎ one way to do something
• 一种 方法 yī zhǒng fāngfǎ one method to do 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 method 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 method”.

• 这是一个好办法。
• 这是一个好方法。
• 你有好办法吗？
• 你有好方法吗？
• 他想了很多办法，但是都没有用。
• 他想了很多方法，但是都没有用。

Differences

Common Phrases

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

没办法

• 没 办法 méi bànfǎ 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 方法 xuéxí fāngfǎ study method

• 科学 方法 kēxué fāngfǎ a scientific method

• 教学 方法 jiàoxué fāngfǎ teaching method

• 看问题的 方法 kàn wèntí de fāngfǎ the method of looking at a problem

Example Sentences

Only 方法 can be used in the following sentences: