根据
according to; on the basis of (a source you got the information from, or facts and rules you go by)
Structure
根据 + 名词 ， 句子
What it means
“According to, on the basis of”: names the source of your information, or the facts and rules you go by.
How it is built
根据 + noun，sentence: 根据天气预报，明天重庆有大雨 (according to the forecast, Chongqing will get heavy rain tomorrow). It can also follow the subject: 我们根据大家的意见，改了旅行计划.
When to use it
Typical sources: 天气预报, 记录, 网上的介绍. 按照 is close, but it is for following a plan or a rule; 根据 also tells where information comes from. 根据 usually opens the sentence, with a comma.
Watch out
Don’t use it for your own opinion: ✗ 根据我，这个计划不好。 ✓ 我认为这个计划不好。 Put a noun after 根据.
Examples
根据天气预报，明天重庆有大雨。
According to the forecast, there will be heavy rain in Chongqing tomorrow.
根据多年的记录，上海一年下一千多毫米的雨。
According to many years of records, Shanghai gets over 1,000 mm of rain a year.
我们根据大家的意见，改了旅行计划。
We changed the travel plan based on what everyone said.
Learn this in HSK 4 · Lesson 13: 长江 (The Yangtze)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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