根据 (gēnjù) + experience / standard / regulation / law
according to (experience / standard / regulation / law)
Mandarin Chinese Articles
How to express conclusion, exclusion, and addition in Mandarin Chinese?
By: Lina Shen Tue Nov 26 2024
Mandarin chinesePrepositions
You can use the words 根据 (gēnjù) and 按照 (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 (chú/chúle) can be used to express both exception and addition. Curious how this can be? Let’s find out!
Table of Contents
How to use 根据 (gēnjù) and 按照 (àn zhào) for conclusions in Mandarin Chinese?
The connecting words 根据 (gēnjù) and 按照 (àn zhào) can be used with a nounNo definition set for nounLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. or a noun phraseNo definition set for noun phraseLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. 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 (gēnjù) is used in a formal situation, and it is used to express “according to experiences, standards, regulations, or laws,” while 按照 (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 (gēnjù) and 按照 (àn zhào) and in this case they are interchangeable. The only difference is that 根据 (gēnjù) is more formal.
按照 (àn zhào) + experience / requirement / command / customs
according to (experience / requirement / command / customs)
Let’s look at the pattern:
根据 (gēnjù) / 按照 (àn zhào) + noun/phrase, subject + verb + object
according to (experience / requirement / command / customs)
Examples with 根据 | Examples with 按照 |
|---|---|
根据学校规定，学生必须穿校服。 (Gēnjù xuéxiào guīdìng, xuésheng bìxū chuān xiàofú.) According to school rules, students must wear school uniforms. | 按照风俗，春节人们得穿红色。 (Àn zhào fēngsú, chūnjié rénmen děi chuán hóngsè.) 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？ (Gēnjù nǐ de jīngyàn, wǒde shāngkǒu gē de lìhài ma?) According to your experience, did my wound cut badly? | 按照经验，这个问题会很快解决的。 (Àn zhào jīngyàn, zhège wèntí huì hěnkuài jiějú de.) According to experience, the problem will be solved soon. |
根据你的字，我可以看出你的性格。 (Gēnjù nǐ de zì, wǒ kěyǐ kànchū nǐ de xìnggé.) 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。 (Àn zhào lǎoshī de yāoqiú, wǒ yǐjīng bǎ lùnwén xiě hǎo le.) 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 (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 (yǐwài, except, besides) or 之外 (zhīwài, except, besides) that are used with 除/除了 (chú/chúle): 除/除了 (chú/chúle) ... 以外 (yǐwài) or 除/除了 (chú/chúle) ... 之外 (zhīwài) to emphasize the exclusions and additions, but please note that 以外 (yǐwài) or 之外 (zhīwài) can be omitted.
How to use 除/除了 (chú/chúle) to express exception?
除/除了 (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 (dōu, both, all) is used. Look at this pattern:
除/除了 (chú/chúle) + noun/phrase (+ 以外 (yǐwài) / 之外 (zhīwài)),
subject + 都 (dōu) + verb + object
除了我 (以外/之外)，其他同学都去参加聚会了。
(Chúle wǒ (yǐwài/zhīwài), qítā tóngxué dōu qù cānjiā jùhuì le.)
Except for me, the rest (of my) classmates all went to the party.
除数学 (以外/之外), 我的其他功课都得了90分。
(Chú shùxué (yǐwài/zhīwài), wǒde qítā gōngkè dōu dé le jiǔshí fēn.)
Except for math, I got 90 on all my other subjects.
除了卫生间 (以外/之外), 别的房间我都打扫了。
(Chúle wèishēng jiān (yǐwài/zhīwài), biéde fángjiān wǒ dōu dǎsǎo le.)
Except for the bathroom, I cleaned the rest of the rooms.
How to use 除/除了(chú/chúle) to express addition?
As strange as it may sound, 除/除了 (chú/chúle) ... 以外 (yǐwài) or 除/除了 (chú/chúle) ... 之外 (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 (both, all) as shown in the pattern above, you will see words like 还 (hái, also) / 也 (yě, too) used in the sentence to express the addition.
subject + 除/除了 (chú/chúle) + noun/phrase (+ 以外 (yǐwài) / 之外 (zhīwài)
+ 还 (hái) + 也 (yě) + predicate + other
家里除/除了他(以外)，还/也有一只猫。
(Jiālǐ chú/chúle tā (yǐwài), hái/yě yǒu yìzhī māo.)
Besides him, there is (also) a cat in the house.
这台电脑除/除了价格便宜，还/也很耐用。
(Zhètái dian chú/chúle jiàgé piányi, hái/yě hěn nàiyòng.)
Apart from the affordable price, this computer is also durable.
这个商场除/除了卖日用品，还/也卖蔬菜水果。
(Zhège shāngchǎng chú/chúle mài rìyòngpin, hái/yě mài shūcài shuǐguǒ.)
Besides daily necessities, this shop also sells veggies and fruits.
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 (gēnjù) and 按照 (àn zhào) to express manner:
根据 (gēnjù) / 按照 (àn zhào) + noun/phrase, subject + verb + object | |
|---|---|
根据公司规定，工人每年有三天假期。 (Gēnjù gōngsī guīdìng, gōngrén měinián yǒu sān tiān jiàqī.) 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。 (Àn zhào zhèzhǒng xuéxí fāngshì, nǐ yídìng néng xuéhǎo.) According to this method, you definitely will learn it well. |
根据爸妈的经验，金钱买不了时间。 (Gēnjù bàmā de jīngyàn, jīnqián mǎi bùliǎo shíjiān.) According to my parents' experience, money cannot buy time. | 按照经验，这个问题会很快解决的。 (Àn zhào jīngyàn, zhège wèntí huì hěnkuài jiějú de.) According to experience, this problem will be solved soon. |
Connecting words 除/除了 (chú/chúle) to express exclusions and addition:
除/除了 (chú/chúle) + noun/phrase (+ 以外 (yǐwài) / 之外 (zhīwài)), subject + 都 (dōu) + verb + object | |
|---|---|
除/除了冬天(以外)，我都喜欢其他季节。 (Chú/chúle dōngtiān (yǐwài), wǒ dōu xǐhuan qítā jìjié.) Except for winter, I like all the other seasons. | |
subject + 除/除了 (chú/chúle) + noun/phrase (+ 以外 (yǐwài) / 之外 (zhīwài)), 还 (hái) / 也 (yě) + predicate + other | |
|---|---|
春节除/除了吃饺子，还/也得吃鱼。 (Chūnjié chú/chúle chī jiǎozi, hái/yě děi chī yú.) Besides eating dumplings, (people) also need to eat fish during the Spring Festival. | |
除了这篇文章，我们还给你准备了一些练习题!
(chúle zhèpiān wénzhāng, wǒmen hái gěi nǐ zhǔnbèi le yìxiē liànxí tí)
In addition to this post, we have some exercises for you!
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