依据

• Pinyin: yī jù
• Hanzi breakdown: 依 = 亻 (person) + 衣, to rely on; 据 = 扌 (hand) + 居, evidence/basis

Meaning

Basis; grounds; according to. Something that serves as the foundation for a judgment, decision, or action.

Can function as both a noun (the basis/grounds) and a verb/preposition (according to, based on). Common in formal writing, academic papers, and legal documents. Often used with 作为 (as), forming 作为依据 (serve as the basis).

Examples

1. 你的结论有什么依据？请拿出证据来。 What basis do you have for your conclusion? Please provide evidence.
2. 法院依据现有证据做出了判决。 The court made its verdict based on existing evidence.
3. 这项研究以大量实验数据作为依据。 This research uses a large amount of experimental data as its basis.

Usage Guide

Context: academic, legal, argumentation

Tone: formal

Do Say

• 依据合同条款，我们有权终止合作。(According to the contract terms, we have the right to terminate cooperation.)
• 这个结论缺乏科学依据。(This conclusion lacks scientific basis.)

Don't Say

• 我依据去超市 (依据 needs an object — say 根据 if you need a simpler connector)

Origin & History

Compound of 依 (to rely on, according to) and 据 (evidence, basis). Together they mean 'the grounds relied upon.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Educated