Skip to content
HSK 2.0 Level 5+ HSK 3.0 Level 5+ 6 min read

Basis Prepositions 凭, 据 and 依据

Say what something is based on: 凭 for “relying on” what you have, 据 for “according to” a source, and 依据 for “on the basis of” rules and facts.

Pattern

凭(着) + ability / document + verb; 据 + source + 说 / 报道 / 了解; 依据 + rule / fact + verb

凭 leans on what you have, 据 quotes where information came from, and 依据 follows rules or facts.

他凭自己的努力考上了大学。

When to use Basis Prepositions 凭, 据 and 依据

All three introduce the basis for an action and come before the verb, often at the start of the sentence. 凭 (or 凭着) means “relying on” something a person has: ability, effort, experience or a document like a ticket. 据 means “according to” a source of information and is almost always followed by a verb like 说, 报道 or 了解. 依据 means “on the basis of” rules, laws or facts and sounds formal.

请凭票入场。

Please show your ticket to enter.

据天气预报说，明天会降温。

According to the weather forecast, it’ll get colder tomorrow.

学校依据大家的意见修改了计划。

The school revised the plan based on everyone’s opinions.

据说这家饭馆的老板是北京人。

They say the owner of this restaurant is from Beijing.

Common traps

  • Use 据 with an information verb: 据他说, 据报道, 据了解. For a plain “according to + noun”, use 根据: 根据新闻.
  • 凭 is for relying on what someone has (a ticket, ability, experience); for rules say 依据规定 or 根据规定, not 凭规定.
  • Don’t use 凭什么 to politely ask “based on what?”: it means “what gives you the right?”. Ask 你是根据什么说的？ instead.

Targeted drill

Practice this exact pattern before moving on.

规定，访客必须登记

According to the rules, visitors must register
Fill in the missing piece, then press Enter

How we make our content