Preposition: 据 (According To)
引出凭借依据：据
Use the preposition 据 to cite sources, data, and authorities in formal Chinese
Place 据 before the source of information (an expert, a report, statistics, hearsay) to introduce cited or attributed information. It means "according to" or "based on."
据 is the compact form of 根据. While 根据 is used in both speech and writing, standalone 据 is primarily a written and formal spoken form. It appears constantly in news reports, academic papers, and formal presentations. Common fixed phrases include 据说 (it is said), 据报道 (according to reports), 据统计 (according to statistics), and 据了解 (according to what is known).
Lesson Targets
Podcast
Podcast: Preposition: 据 (According To) (引出凭借依据：据)
Listen to Jason & Amy explain the 引出凭借依据：据 pattern
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Understanding 引出凭借依据：据
In any language, citing your sources is essential — "according to experts," "based on statistics," "I heard that." In Chinese, 据 is the most efficient way to do this in formal contexts. It is the compact, literary version of 根据, and you will encounter it in virtually every Chinese news article and academic paper. The beauty of 据 is its versatility: 据说 (it is said — hearsay), 据统计 (according to statistics — data), 据专家介绍 (according to experts — authority), 据报道 (according to reports — media). Each of these phrases introduces information that comes from somewhere other than the speaker. Learning 据 and its common combinations will dramatically improve your ability to read Chinese news and write formal Chinese. It signals to the reader: "This is not just my opinion — there is a source behind it."
Key Points
- 据 (jù) = "according to / based on" — compact formal preposition.
- 据说 (jùshuō) = "it is said / reportedly" — the most common 据 phrase.
- 据统计 (jù tǒngjì) = "according to statistics" — for citing data.
- 据报道 (jù bàodào) = "according to reports" — for citing media.
- 据了解 (jù liǎojiě) = "according to what is known / it is understood that."
- 据专家介绍 (jù zhuānjiā jièshào) = "according to experts."
- More concise than 根据, which can be used interchangeably but is slightly less formal in some fixed phrases.
Chinese journalism uses 据 as a standard attribution device. Unlike English news writing where attribution often comes at the end ("…experts say"), Chinese news typically leads with the source: 据新华社报道…… (According to Xinhua News Agency…). Understanding this pattern is key to reading Chinese media fluently.
Key Vocabulary
Example Sentences
据专家介绍，这个信息并不准确。
According to experts, this information is not accurate.
Citing an authority
据统计，大多数家庭有一到两个子女。
According to statistics, most families have one to two children.
据说，他还没决定放弃。
It is said that he has not yet decided to give up.
Hearsay — unconfirmed
据报道，这次地震造成了严重的损失。
According to reports, this earthquake caused serious damage.
据了解，该公司计划明年上市。
It is understood that the company plans to go public next year.
据我所知，他已经离开了这座城市。
As far as I know, he has already left this city.
Personal knowledge as source
据调查结果显示，超过80%的学生支持这个方案。
According to survey results, over 80% of students support this plan.
Common Mistakes
据 needs a source or a fixed phrase after it — you cannot put 据 directly before a statement. Use 据说 (it is said) for hearsay.
据我 alone is incomplete. The correct phrase is 据我所知 (as far as I know) — you need the full expression.
Do not combine 据说 with 统计. 据说 is for hearsay; 据统计 is for data. They are separate phrases for different sources.
Practice Exercises
Tips & Tricks
Memorize the top five 据 phrases: 据说, 据统计, 据报道, 据了解, 据我所知 — these cover most situations.
When reading Chinese news, 据 appears in the first sentence of almost every article. Spotting it instantly tells you the source of the information.
Use 据说 in conversation for gossip or hearsay: 据说他们分手了 (Rumor has it they broke up).
In academic writing, prefer 据 + specific source (据调查, 据研究) over the vague 据说.
Homework
Write a short news report (5-6 sentences) about a fictional event, using at least three different 据 phrases (据报道, 据统计, 据了解, etc.) to attribute information to different sources. Then write three conversational sentences using 据说 about things you have heard recently.