按照 (ànzhào) vs 根据 (gēnjù)

按照 (ànzhào) vs 根据 (gēnjù)

Both 按照 and 根据 can be used when making a conclusion and preceding a noun such as “法律” “规定” “经验” or “规律” and etc.

e.g.

根据我的旅行经验，你一个月只带那么点儿钱是不够的。(Gēnjù wǒ de lǚxíng jīngyàn, nǐ yīgè yuè zhǐ dài nàme diǎnr qián shì búgòu de.) According to my travel experience, it’s not enough for you to bring so little money a month.

按照这个国家的法律，未成年是不可以结婚的。(Ànzhào zhège guójiā de fǎlǜ, wèi chéngnián shì bù kěyǐ jiéhūn de.) According to the laws of this country, minors are not allowed to marry.

按照公司规定，迟到三次就要罚款了。(Ànzhào gōngsī guīdìng, chídào sāncì jiù yào fákuǎnle.) According to the company’s regulations, three times late will be fined.

Differences

按照

按照 + a criterion or standard

按照 could be followed by a criterion, standard, or example.

e.g.

学生应该按照老师的要求写作业。(Xuéshēng yīnggāi ànzhào lǎoshī de yāoqiú xiě zuòyè.) Students should do homework as directed by the teacher.

这些旧东西可以按照原价的一半卖给别人。(Zhèxiē jiù dōngxi kěyǐ ànzhào yuánjià de yíbàn mài gěi biérén.) These old things can be sold to others for half the original price.

这件事还是按照你说的做吧。(Zhè jiàn shì háishì ànzhào nǐ shuō de zuò ba.) Just do as you say.

根据

根据 + basis or evidence

It means to do something, get a judgment or conclusion based on something else. In this case, it functions as a preposition.

e.g.

根据目前的情况，我们还不能确定这件事是谁干的。(Gēnjù mùqián de qíngkuàng, wǒmen hái bùnéng quèdìng zhè jiàn shì shì shéi gàn de.) Based on the current situation, we are not sure who did this.

这本书是根据一个真实的事件写的。(Zhè běn shū shì gēnjù yīgè zhēnshí de shìjiàn xiě de.) This book is based on a real event.

根据其他人的说法，那个时候你们还是陌生人。(Gēnjù qítā rén de shuōfǎ, nàgè shíhòu nǐmen háishì mòshēng rén.) According to others, you were strangers at that time.

根据他的描述，医生觉得他需要一个全面体检。(Gēnjù tā de miáoshù, yīshēng juédé tā xūyào yígè quánmiàn tǐjiǎn.) According to his description, the doctor felt he needed a full physical examination.

“根据” can be a noun, which means basis, grounds, foundation.

e.g.

如果没有根据，你不可以这么说别人。(Rúguǒ méiyǒu gēnjù, nǐ bù kěyǐ zhème shuō biérén.) You can’t say that about someone without a basis.

你说他是骗子？你有根据吗？(Nǐ shuō tā shì piànzi? Nǐ yǒu gēnjù ma?) You say he is a liar? Do you have any basis?

你这么做这件事的根据是什么？(Nǐ zhème zuò zhè jiàn shì de gēnjù shì shénme?) What’s your basis for doing this?