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据 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
据jùaccording toHSK 5, p, 11 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1844, Hard
据jùto act in accordance withHSK 5, p, 11 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1844, Hard
据jùto depend onHSK 5, p, 11 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1844, Hard
据jùto seizeHSK 5, p, 11 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1844, Hard
据jùto occupyHSK 5, p, 11 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1844, Hard
据jùto possess, to occupy; position; baseHSK 5, p, 11 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1844, Hard
据jūaccording toHSK 5, p, 11 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1844, Hard
据jūto act in accordance withHSK 5, p, 11 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1844, Hard
据jūto depend onHSK 5, p, 11 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1844, Hard
据jūto seizeHSK 5, p, 11 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1844, Hard
据jūto occupyHSK 5, p, 11 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1844, Hard
据jūto possess, to occupy; position; baseHSK 5, p, 11 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1844, Hard
jù(ju4)
primary
 T4
  1. 1according to
  2. 2to act in accordance with
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

据(㨿)jù(ju4)

The character 据 (jū) primarily means 'according to' or 'to act in accordance with'. It signifies dependence on something or occupying a position. Commonly used in contexts where information is cited or based upon certain criteria, it can also imply seizing or possessing something.

Strokes11Radical扌Frequency#1844DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of citing information or making decisions based on established rules or evidence is deeply valued, reflecting the importance of authority and correctness in communication.

Memory Tip

Imagine a judge (judicial) sitting at a desk (据) to make decisions based on evidence. The desk symbolizes the foundation on which decisions are made. The pronunciation 'jū' can be remembered by visualizing 'jew' which sounds similar, and reminds you that precious things often depend on agreements.

Meanings of 据

jù(ju4)
primary
1according to
2to act in accordance with
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 据

据Simplified
㨿Traditional
11Strokes
扌Radical
介词jiècípreposition (prep.)Part of Speech
#1844Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1

Podcast: 据

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Podcast: 据

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AI Study Notes for 据

Quick Contrast

据 (jù) vs 基于 (jī yú) — use 据 for citing sources or information, while 基于 emphasizes the foundation or basis of an argument.

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 据 (jū) with its homophone jù, which has different meanings. It is often used in formal contexts, such as legal or academic writing. Common collocations include 据说 (jùshuō - according to what is said) and 根据 (gēnjù - based on).

HSK Study Tips

Although not directly listed in HSK levels, understanding 据 can enhance comprehension of related terms like 根据 (gēnjù) and 拮据 (jiéjū). Focus on how it functions in different phrases and its role in expressing dependency or citation.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 据 (jū) with the character 具 (jù), which means 'to possess' or 'tool'. For example, saying '我据这个信息' (Wǒ jù zhège xìnxī) is incorrect; it should be '我根据这个信息' (Wǒ gēnjù zhège xìnxī).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 据

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Etymology of 据

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 居 represents the sound. Simplified form of 據.

Memory Hint

hand

Semantic (meaning)扌
+
Phonetic (sound)居
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 据

Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 居 represents the sound. Simplified form of 據.

  1. 1The meaning half扌 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half居 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayhand
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 据? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 据?

Decomposition of 据

IDS Structure⿰扌居
据Full Character
=
扌shou3
left
居ji1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 据?

How to say according to in Chinese

“according to” in Chinese is据jù

The character 据 (jū) primarily means 'according to' or 'to act in accordance with'. It signifies dependence on something or occupying a position. Commonly used in contexts where information is cited or based upon certain criteria, it can also imply seizing or possessing something.

When to use 据

Be cautious not to confuse 据 (jū) with its homophone jù, which has different meanings. It is often used in formal contexts, such as legal or academic writing. Common collocations include 据说 (jùshuō - according to what is said) and 根据 (gēnjù - based on).

据 or something close to it

据 (jù) vs 基于 (jī yú) — use 据 for citing sources or information, while 基于 emphasizes the foundation or basis of an argument.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 据 (jū) with the character 具 (jù), which means 'to possess' or 'tool'. For example, saying '我据这个信息' (Wǒ jù zhège xìnxī) is incorrect; it should be '我根据这个信息' (Wǒ gēnjù zhège xìnxī).

Write 据

据

Practice writing 据 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 据

据 functions as a preposition (often called a "coverb" in Chinese). It introduces a phrase that comes BEFORE the main verb (我在家吃饭, 给妈妈打电话), unlike English which puts prepositions after the verb. It carries 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Related grammar lessons6
Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

学校根____学生的中文水平分班。

The school assigns classes based on students' Chinese proficiency.

Common Confusions with 据

据vs居
jū

Similar sound but different meaning and usage.

据 and 依 both indicate dependence or reliance, but 据 emphasizes the basis for the action or statement.

1

据说他很聪明 vs 依靠他来解决问题

据 and 依 both indicate dependence or reliance, but 据 emphasizes the basis for the action or statement.

💡据 emphasizes the source of information, while 依 is about relying on someone.
Exercise 1 of 1

Spot the Difference

Which character means "according to"?

or

Example Sentences for 据 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
军队仍然是男人占据的最后堡垒之一。

jūn duì réng rán shì nán rén zhān jù de zuì hòu bǎo lěi zhī yī。

The army is still one of the last male bastions.
2
然而，这种提议的根据当然并不仅仅是经济方面的。

rán ér， ， zhè zhǒng tí yì de gēn jù dāng rán bìng bù jǐn jǐn shì jīng jì fāng miàn。

However, the rationale for such in-itiatives is not, of course, solely economic.
3
据说巴士发生翻车，跌进了峡谷。

jù shuō bā shì fā shēng fān chē， ， diē jìn le xiá。

The bus is said to have over-turned and fallen into a ravine.
4
我们得到了通常难以获取的大量数据。

wǒ mén dé dào le tōng cháng nán yǐ huò qǔ de dà liáng shù jù。

We gained a rich supply of data which would normally be inaccessible.
5
据说帐篷的缝合处快炸线了。

jù shuō zhàng péng de féng hé chǔ kuài zhà xiàn le。

The camps are said to be bursting at the seams.
6
据谣传，票卖到了300英镑。

jù yáo chuán， ， piào mài dào300 le 300。

Rumour has it that tickets were being sold for £
7
这家伙据说并不怎么在乎。

zhè jiā huǒ jù shuō bìng bù zěn mó zài hū。

The rap on this guy is that he doesn't really care.
8
这一确认过程可以保证这些数据符合认可的格式。

zhè yī què rèn guò chéng kě yǐ bǎo zhèng zhè xiē shù jù fú hé rèn kě de gé shì。

This validation process ensures that the data conforms to acceptable formats.
9
证据被当庭呆板地宣读了一遍。

zhèng jù bèi dāng tíng dāi bǎn dì xuān dú le yī biàn。

The evidence was read out to the court in a dull monotone.
10
据说黑客们已经开始传播一种新的电脑病毒。

jù shuō hēi kè mén yǐ jīng kāi shǐ chuán bō yī zhǒng xīn de diàn nǎo bìng dú。

Hackers are said to have started a computer virus.

Cultural Notes for 据

📜Proverb

There's a Chinese proverb '据事而论', which means 'to discuss based on facts'. This emphasizes the importance of relying on evidence in discussions and decision-making.

Word Family of 据

Words Containing This Character20
据jùaccording to據
根据gēnjùaccording to根據
证据zhèngjùevidence證據
数据shùjùdata數據
据说jùshuōreportedly據說
依据yījùbasis依據
据悉jùxīaccording to reports據悉
数据库shùjùkùdatabase數據庫
占据zhànjùto occupy佔據
收据shōujùreceipt收據
据此jùcǐaccording to this據此
据称it is said據稱
票据voucher票據
据点stronghold據點
根据地base of operations根據地
据为己有to take for one's own據為己有
论据contention論據
单据receipts單據
拮据hard pressed for money
数据流data stream數據流
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 据 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 据

The characters 据 (jù) and 據 (yù) are variants of each other, with 据 being more commonly used in modern contexts. While their meanings can overlap, 據 is often found in more formal or literary texts. It's important to recognize the context in which each character is used.

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