You can use the words 根据 transcribed gēnjù and 按照 transcribed àn zhào in Mandarin Chinese to express how someone behaves or reaches a conclusion. They are not completely interchangeable though! The words 除 / 除了 transcribed chú/chúle can be used to express both exception and addition. Curious how this can be? Let’s find out!
How to use 根据 (gēnjù) and 按照 (àn zhào) for conclusions in Mandarin Chinese?
The connecting words 根据 transcribed gēnjù and 按照 transcribed àn zhào can be used with a noun or a noun phrase to indicate how something is done or how it happens. Even though they are both translated as “according to” or “on the basis of” in English, there are some differences in how to use them in Mandarin Chinese.
根据 transcribed gēnjù is used in a formal situation, and it is used to express “according to experiences, standards, regulations, or laws,” while 按照 transcribed àn zhào is more often used in an informal situation and it expresses “according to an experience, requirement, command, or customs.” You must have noticed that “experiences” is shared by both 根据 transcribed gēnjù and 按照 transcribed àn zhào and in this case they are interchangeable. The only difference is that 根据 transcribed gēnjù is more formal.
Let’s look at the pattern:
| Examples with 根据 | Examples with 按照 |
|---|---|
根据学校规定，学生必须穿校服。 Transcription: Gēnjù xuéxiào guīdìng, xuésheng bìxū chuān xiàofú. Translation: According to school rules, students must wear school uniforms. | 按照风俗，春节人们得穿红色。 Transcription: Àn zhào fēngsú, chūnjié rénmen děi chuán hóngsè. Translation: According to customs, people should wear red in the Spring Festival. |
根据你的经验，我的伤口割得厉害吗？ Transcription: Gēnjù nǐ de jīngyàn, wǒde shāngkǒu gē de lìhài ma? Translation: According to your experience, did my wound cut badly? | 按照经验，这个问题会很快解决的。 Transcription: Àn zhào jīngyàn, zhège wèntí huì hěnkuài jiějú de. Translation: According to experience, the problem will be solved soon. |
根据你的字，我可以看出你的性格。 Transcription: Gēnjù nǐ de zì, wǒ kěyǐ kànchū nǐ de xìnggé. Translation: Based on your handwriting, I can tell you about your characteristics. | 按照老师的要求，我已经把论文写好了。 Transcription: Àn zhào lǎoshī de yāoqiú, wǒ yǐjīng bǎ lùnwén xiě hǎo le. Translation: According to the teacher's requirement, I have finished my paper. |
How to use 除/除了 (chú/chúle) for exclusions and additions in Mandarin Chinese?
The connecting words 除 / 除了 transcribed chú/chúle, which are interchangeable, are used with a noun or a noun phrase to indicate exceptions and additions. A lot of times, we will see words like 以外 transcribed yǐwàimeaning except, besides or 之外 transcribed zhīwàimeaning except, besides that are used with 除/除了 transcribed chú/chúle: 除/除了 transcribed chú/chúle ... 以外 transcribed yǐwài or 除/除了 transcribed chú/chúle ... 之外 transcribed zhīwài to emphasize the exclusions and additions, but please note that 以外 transcribed yǐwài or 之外 transcribed zhīwài can be omitted.
How to use 除/除了 (chú/chúle) to express exception?
除/除了 transcribed chú/chúle relates a noun or a phrase to point out an exception. In order to emphasize the wholeness of the rest, the word 都 transcribed dōumeaning both, all is used. Look at this pattern:
How to use 除/除了(chú/chúle) to express addition?
As strange as it may sound, 除/除了 transcribed chú/chúle ... 以外 transcribed yǐwài or 除/除了 transcribed chú/chúle ... 之外 transcribed zhīwài can also be used in the following pattern to indicate something more, an addition. It is often translated as “besides” or “in addition to.” In this pattern, instead of using the word 都 meaning both, all as shown in the pattern above, you will see words like 还 transcribed háimeaning also / 也 transcribed yěmeaning too used in the sentence to express the addition.
To sum up
In this post, we discussed using connecting words to express manner, exclusions, and additions. Let’s have a quick review!
Connecting words 根据 transcribed gēnjù and 按照 transcribed àn zhào to express manner:
| 根据 transcribed gēnjù / 按照 transcribed àn zhào + noun/phrase, subject + verb + object | |
|---|---|
根据公司规定，工人每年有三天假期。 Transcription: Gēnjù gōngsī guīdìng, gōngrén měinián yǒu sān tiān jiàqī. Translation: According to the company rules, workers can have a three-day vacation each year. | 按照这种学习方式，你一定能学好。 Transcription: Àn zhào zhèzhǒng xuéxí fāngshì, nǐ yídìng néng xuéhǎo. Translation: According to this method, you definitely will learn it well. |
根据爸妈的经验，金钱买不了时间。 Transcription: Gēnjù bàmā de jīngyàn, jīnqián mǎi bùliǎo shíjiān. Translation: According to my parents' experience, money cannot buy time. | 按照经验，这个问题会很快解决的。 Transcription: Àn zhào jīngyàn, zhège wèntí huì hěnkuài jiějú de. Translation: According to experience, this problem will be solved soon. |
Connecting words 除/除了 transcribed chú/chúle to express exclusions and addition:
| 除/除了 transcribed chú/chúle + noun/phrase (+ 以外 transcribed yǐwài / 之外 transcribed zhīwài), subject + 都 transcribed dōu + verb + object | |
|---|---|
除/除了冬天(以外)，我都喜欢其他季节。 Transcription: Chú/chúle dōngtiān (yǐwài), wǒ dōu xǐhuan qítā jìjié. Translation: Except for winter, I like all the other seasons. | |
| subject + 除/除了 transcribed chú/chúle + noun/phrase (+ 以外 transcribed yǐwài / 之外 transcribed zhīwài), 还 transcribed hái / 也 transcribed yě + predicate + other | |
|---|---|
春节除/除了吃饺子，还/也得吃鱼。 Transcription: Chūnjié chú/chúle chī jiǎozi, hái/yě děi chī yú. Translation: Besides eating dumplings, (people) also need to eat fish during the Spring Festival. | |
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