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根据 vs 据 (based on vs formal shorthand)
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According to reports
- You read a news story citing an official source.
- according to据to report (news)报道,this year今年(modifier / structural particle)的traveler游客number of people人数increased增加(completed / change)了两成。 — "According to reports, the number of tourists has risen by 20% this year."
based on根据 = based on (any source)
- based on根据 + source / evidence = on the basis of: based on根据the survey调查, based on根据he他(modifier / structural particle)的way of speaking说法, based on根据to stipulate规定.
- It is used in speech and writing.
based on根据the survey调查,most大多数people人agree同意。

according to据 = according to (formal shorthand)
- according to据 + verb of reporting in fixed formal phrases: according to据to report (news)报道 (according to reports), it is said据说 (it is said), according to statistics据统计 (according to statistics), according to据to understand了解 (it is understood).
- it is said据说he他is going to要go abroad出国(completed / change)了。 — "Word is he's going abroad."
it is said据说he他is going to要go abroad出国了。
Complete: “It is said that he's going abroad.” ____说他要出国了。
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据说 = it is said.
Match each phrase to its meaning.
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据 + reporting verb.
according to据 mostly before a reporting verb
- according to据 usually takes a reporting verb directly: according to据to report (news)报道, according to statistics据统计. Before a plain noun phrase, based on根据 is safer: based on根据这份to inform报告.
- it is said据说 is common even in speech; the other according to据 phrases are formal.
Which is safer before a plain noun phrase? “based on this report”
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Before a noun phrase, 根据 is the safe choice.
based on根据 as a noun
- based on根据 can also mean "grounds, basis": you你to have / there is有what什么based on根据?
- according to据 cannot be a noun.
according to据statistics统计,the population人口increased增加了。
据 can be used as a noun meaning “grounds”.
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False. On its own 据 is a preposition, “according to” (据报道). The noun “grounds, basis” is 根据 (你有什么根据?); 据 has this meaning only inside compounds like 证据.
Recap
- based on根据 + source = based on (general; also a noun "grounds").
- according to据 + reporting verb = according to (according to据to report (news)报道, it is said据说, according to statistics据统计; formal shorthand).
Read the full reference: HSK 6 grammar — Comparing similar adverbs.
You read a news story citing an official source. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.