依照 for Acting in Accordance With a Basis in Chinese
依照 + 依据
依照 introduces the rule, procedure, plan, opinion, or other basis that an action follows. The prepositional phrase normally precedes the action. It is formal and emphasizes acting in accordance with an established standard, so it overlaps with 按照 but is not an unrestricted substitute in every lexical or discourse context.
Published July 29, 2026
Reviewed July 29, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
Subject + 依照 + Rule / Plan / Opinion + Verb Phrase
Read the structure
依照 introduces the rule, procedure, plan, opinion, or other basis that an action follows. The prepositional phrase normally precedes the action. It is formal and emphasizes acting in accordance with an established standard, so it overlaps with 按照 but is not an unrestricted substitute in every lexical or discourse context. Keep the model Subject + 依照 + Rule / Plan / Opinion + Verb Phrase visible while you compare each sentence.
请依照规定办理手续。
Please complete the procedure according to the regulations.
Choose the right context
State the rule or procedure governing an action. Introduce a plan, instruction, or opinion followed in practice. Place the 依照 phrase before the action it controls.
我们依照计划继续工作。
We continued the work according to the plan.
Respect the boundary
Do not put 依照 after the completed action. Do not duplicate 依照 and 按照 before one basis. Do not use it for a mere cause that no action follows.
请依照按照规定办理手续。
(Please complete the procedure according to the regulations.)
Repair the pattern
Two basis prepositions are stacked: 依照 and 按照 compete for the same prepositional slot; choose one. The basis phrase is stranded after the action: The basis phrase normally precedes and scopes over the action it guides.
请依照规定办理手续。
Use the repaired structure without changing the intended meaning.
02 / MAP
Read the Sentence
Read from left to right and notice the job performed by each part. The labels describe this example; they are not a rule that every Chinese sentence must copy.
请依照规定办理手续。
Please complete the procedure according to the regulations.
请
Subject
This part occupies the Subject position in the model pattern.
依照
依照
This part occupies the 依照 position in the model pattern.
规定
Rule / Plan / Opinion
This part occupies the Rule / Plan / Opinion position in the model pattern.
办理
Verb Phrase
This part occupies the Verb Phrase position in the model pattern.
手续
Subject
This part occupies the Subject position in the model pattern.
03 / EXAMPLES
Examples You Can Reuse
Keep the structure stable while changing the people, objects, times, or conditions. Pinyin is shown as reading support; use the Chinese sentence and translation to confirm the grammar relationship.
请依照规定办理手续。
Please complete the procedure according to the regulations.
我们依照计划继续工作。
We continued the work according to the plan.
法院依照法律作出决定。
The court made its decision in accordance with the law.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- State the rule or procedure governing an action.
- Introduce a plan, instruction, or opinion followed in practice.
- Place the 依照 phrase before the action it controls.
Do not use it when
- Do not put 依照 after the completed action.
- Do not duplicate 依照 and 按照 before one basis.
- Do not use it for a mere cause that no action follows.
05 / REPAIR
Compare Right and Wrong
Compare the smallest meaningful change. Each explanation identifies a placement, scope, form, or clause relationship instead of treating the whole sentence as one undifferentiated mistake.
请依照按照规定办理手续。
请依照规定办理手续。
Two basis prepositions are stacked
依照 and 按照 compete for the same prepositional slot; choose one.
我们继续工作依照计划。
我们依照计划继续工作。
The basis phrase is stranded after the action
The basis phrase normally precedes and scopes over the action it guides.
请依照按照规定办理手续。
依照 and 按照 compete for the same prepositional slot; choose one.
我们继续工作依照计划。
The basis phrase normally precedes and scopes over the action it guides.
06 / PRACTICE
Practice the Grammar Point
Complete three short tasks in order: judge the pattern, repair a common error, and build the sentence. Feedback is fixed and reviewed, so these activities do not use a checker allowance.
1. Judge the sentence
2. Choose the correction
3. Build the sentence
Build a complete sentence with 依照 + 依据.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 依照 + 依据. Your draft moves to the checker through this browser session, selects this grammar point as the first review focus, and waits for you to submit.
08 / QUESTIONS
依照 for Acting in Accordance With a Basis Questions
How is 依照 different from 按照?
They overlap strongly. 依照 is formal and often highlights compliance with an established basis; specific collocations and register still matter.
What can follow 依照?
Common complements include laws, regulations, procedures, plans, instructions, and opinions that guide a later action.
09 / SOURCES
Sources and Review Notes
These references support different parts of the lesson. GF0025-2021 supports level placement only; professional grammar works support the explanation, limits, examples, and cross-checks. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021)
Ministry of Education and State Language Commission · Ministry of Education of the PRC · 2021
Locator: Appendix A, Level 5 item 【五14】, PDF p. 224
Lists 依照 at Level 5 with examples involving requirements, plans, and formal bases.
Official source“依据”与“依照”的句法语义选择和事实性研究
赵新、邹甜甜 · 江苏大学文学院 · 2025
Locator: Research announcement summarizing the CSSCI study of 依据 and 依照
Reports corpus-based evidence for distinct syntactic and semantic selection constraints of 依照.
Official sourceLaoshi Chinese Grammar Reference
Laoshi editorial team · Laoshi · 2026
Locator: Grammar page 200, 依照, usage and examples sections
Explains strict compliance with laws, rules, habits, plans, and other stated bases.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Easy to confuse
按照…按照: According to a Basis
Compare two basis prepositions with substantial overlap but different formal and collocational preferences.
Compare
根据Evidential Basis with 根据
根据 often presents evidence for judgment, while 依照 emphasizes action conforming to a basis.
Compare
依据Normative Basis with 依据
依据 foregrounds evidential support, while 依照 introduces the standard an action follows.
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Easy to confuse
Compare two basis prepositions with substantial overlap but different formal and collocational preferences.