TraceHanzi

按照 meaning in English

ànzhào

according to; in accordance with; on the basis of

HSK 3preposition22 strokes

Meaning of 按照

Definitions from CC-CEDICT.

ànzhào
  1. according to; in accordance with; on the basis of

How to use 按照

按照 comes before a noun like a plan, rule, request, or order, and the whole phrase sits before the verb. It is common in both speech and writing. Example: 请按照老师说的做。(Qǐng ànzhào lǎoshī shuō de zuò.) Please do it the way the teacher said.

按 (àn) means to press with your hand, and 照 (zhào) means to shine on or follow, as in 照片 (zhàopiàn). Picture pressing your finger on a rule sheet and following it line by line: that is doing something 按照 a plan.

Common mistake: Learners often put the 按照 phrase after the verb, as in English, saying 做按照计划 instead of 按照计划做 (ànzhào jìhuà zuò). Also do not confuse it with 根据 (gēnjù), which is better for basing a conclusion on facts or data, while 按照 is about following a standard or instruction.

按照 in example sentences

Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.

我wǒ们men会huì按àn照zhào你nǐ的de工gōng作zuò量liàng付fù钱qián给gěi你nǐ。
We will pay you according to the amount of work you do.
我wǒ们men知zhī道dào汤tāng姆mǔ有yǒu时shí不bú会huì按àn照zhào指zhǐ示shì行xíng事shì。
We know Tom doesn't always do what he's told.
你nǐ必bì须xū按àn照zhào你nǐ的de计jì划huà行xíng事shì。
You must go through with your plan.
按àn照zhào这zhè个ge速sù度dù，我wǒ们men不bú会huì在zài这zhè周zhōu结jié束shù前qián完wán成chéng。
At this rate, we're not likely to be done before the end of the week.
老lǎo师shī按àn照zhào身shēn高gāo给gěi孩hái子zi们men排pái队duì。
The teacher lined the children up in order of height.

Stroke order for each character

Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.

按 àn · to press · 9 strokes

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  8. 8
  9. 9

照 zhào · according to · 13 strokes

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  8. 8
  9. 9
  10. 10
  11. 11
  12. 12
  13. 13

Related words

Words that share a character with 按照.

照片zhàopiànphotograph
照顾zhàogùto take care of; to show consideration
护照hùzhàopassport
照相zhàoxiàngto take a photograph
拍照pāizhàoto take a picture
按时ànshíon time; before deadline
按摩ànmómassage; to massage
驾照jiàzhàodriver's license (abbr. for 駕駛執照|驾驶执照[jia4 shi3 zhi2 zhao4])
依照yīzhàoaccording to; in light of
照耀zhàoyàoto shine; to illuminate
照样zhàoyàngas before; (same) as usual
执照zhízhàolicense; permit

Questions about 按照

What does 按照 mean?

按照 (ànzhào) means "according to; in accordance with; on the basis of" and is used as a preposition.

How do you write 按照?

按照 is made of 2 characters: 按 (9 strokes), 照 (13 strokes). That is 22 strokes in total.

Is 按照 an HSK word?

Yes. 按照 is on the HSK 3 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.

Can I just use 按 instead of 按照?

Yes, 按 alone can mean according to, as in 按时 (ànshí) on time or 按顺序 (àn shùnxù) in order. 按 is shorter and often pairs with one-syllable words, while 按照 usually goes with two-syllable nouns like 规定 or 计划.

Can 按照 be followed by a single-syllable word?

Usually not. 按照 sounds natural with two or more syllables, such as 按照要求 (ànzhào yāoqiú) according to the requirements. With one syllable, use 按 instead, for example 按月 (àn yuè) by the month.

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