Preposition 依照 — In Accordance With
介词：依照
Use 依照 to express acting in accordance with rules, customs, or someone's wishes
Place 依照 before the standard, rule, custom, or wish that guides the action. 依照 emphasizes conformity and compliance — the action follows the stated standard closely.
依照 is very close in meaning to 按照, but 依照 is slightly more formal and literary. Both mean "in accordance with," but 依照 often appears in legal texts and formal regulations, while 按照 is more versatile.
Lesson Targets
Podcast
Podcast: Preposition 依照 — In Accordance With (介词：依照)
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Understanding 介词：依照
The preposition 依照 (yīzhào) means "in accordance with" or "following." It introduces a rule, standard, custom, or person's wish that an action conforms to. When someone says 他想依照自己喜欢的方式去生活, they mean he wants to live following his own preferred way. Unlike 依据, which emphasizes the evidential basis for a conclusion, 依照 emphasizes compliance with a standard or model. You are not just citing evidence — you are following a guideline. This word is especially common in legal language: 依照法律规定 (in accordance with legal provisions) is a phrase you will see in every Chinese law and contract. In daily life, 依照 can also refer to following customs or personal preferences. While 按照 is its more common casual synonym, using 依照 makes your language sound more refined and authoritative.
Key Points
- 依照 (yīzhào) = "in accordance with / following" — emphasizes compliance.
- 依照 + rules/laws: 依照学校的规定 (in accordance with school rules).
- 依照 + customs: 依照传统 (following tradition).
- 依照 + personal wishes: 依照自己的方式 (following one's own way).
- 依照 is more formal than 按照; both are interchangeable in most contexts.
- Common in legal phrasing: 依照本法第X条 (in accordance with Article X of this law).
Chinese legal documents almost always use 依照 rather than 按照 or 根据 when citing specific laws and regulations. If you plan to read Chinese contracts, court decisions, or government policies, familiarity with 依照 is essential. In everyday life, following established customs (依照传统) is considered respectful, especially during festivals and family ceremonies.
Key Vocabulary
Example Sentences
他想依照自己喜欢的方式去生活。
He wants to live according to his own preferred way.
依照学校的规定，学生要按时上课，不能迟到。
According to school rules, students must attend class on time and cannot be late.
我们应该依照合同办事。
We should act in accordance with the contract.
依照传统，过年要给孩子红包。
According to tradition, you give children red envelopes during New Year.
请依照医生的建议服药。
Please take the medicine according to the doctor's advice.
依照法律，他的行为是违法的。
According to the law, his behavior is illegal.
我们依照计划一步一步来。
We'll follow the plan step by step.
Common Mistakes
依照 requires a standard, rule, or model to follow — not a personal opinion. Use 在我看来 for "in my view."
依照 must be followed by a noun (the standard), not an adverb. You need to specify what she is following.
依照 means "following a standard." Clues are evidence, not standards to follow. Use 依据 for evidence-based reasoning.
Practice Exercises
Tips & Tricks
Think of 依照 as "following the blueprint" — there is a clear standard, and you conform to it.
In most daily conversations, 按照 works fine. Reserve 依照 for formal writing, legal contexts, and when you want to sound more authoritative.
Compare the "yī" family: 依据 = based on evidence, 依照 = in accordance with rules. Both are formal, but their emphasis differs.
Practice with rules you know: 依照交通规则, 依照公司制度, 依照老师的要求.
Homework
Write three sentences using 依照 with laws or rules, two sentences using 依照 with customs or traditions, and one sentence using 依照 with personal wishes. Compare each sentence with an 按照 version and note any difference in tone.