依
according to; in accordance with (formal)
Structure
依 ＋ 法／规定／原则／合同 ＋ 动词 · 依 我看
What it means
According to, in accordance with: the formal written form of 按照 or 根据. It heads a rule, law or agreement, and the verb follows.
How it is built
依 + 法／规定／合同 + verb: 依公司规定，新员工的试用期为三个月 (Under company rules, new staff are on three months’ probation). Set phrases: 依法, 依次, 依约.
When to use it
Legal and official writing. The one everyday use is 依我看 (in my view): 依我看，这件事还得再商量商量. Elsewhere in speech, 按照 or 根据 is more natural.
Watch out
Keep the object short: 依法处理, 依合同约定; before a long clause use 根据. Don’t confuse it with the noun 依据 (basis, lesson 2-7): 依 is never a noun.
Examples
依《侵权责任法》中的公平原则，一审判决杨某补偿1.5万元。
Under the fairness principle of the Tort Liability Law, the first court ordered Yang to pay 15,000 yuan.
依公司规定，新员工的试用期为三个月。
Under company rules, new staff are on three months’ probation.
依我看，这件事还得再商量商量。
If you ask me, this needs more discussion.
Learn this in Lesson 121 · HSK 7–9: 电梯劝烟案 (Court report: the lift smoking case)
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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