根據

According to (Formal)

Level 4Sounds Like gan1 geoi3

Use 根據 (gan1 geoi3) to introduce a source of information (like news, a report, or a person) or to state the basis for a conclusion. It is more formal than everyday 'I heard' expressions.

How It Works

1. Prepositional Usage ('According to')
The most common use is to introduce a source before making a statement. The structure is: 根據 (gan1 geoi3) + Noun Phrase + [Statement]. Crucially, 根據 is followed by a noun, noun phrase, or a nominalized phrase. To cite what someone said, you can simply use 根據佢講 (gan1 geoi3 keoi5 gong2) or 根據佢所講 (gan1 geoi3 keoi5 so2 gong2).

2. Prepositional/Coverb Usage ('Based on')
It acts as a coverb modifying a main verb to show the basis of an action. This is frequently seen in the 係 (hai6) ... 嘅 (ge3) construction to describe the origin of a work, such as 係根據真人真事改編嘅 (hai6 gan1 geoi3 zan1 jan4 zan1 si6 goi2 pin1 ge3) - 'It is adapted based on a true story,' where 改編 (adapted) is the main verb.

3. Noun Usage ('Basis' or 'Grounds')
It can function as a noun, often paired with 有 (jau5) or 冇 (mou5) to mean 'to have/not have grounds' for a claim.

4. Register and Alternatives
While integrated into formal spoken Cantonese, it is too stiff for simple personal opinions, though it is very commonly heard in daily life when citing news, data, or official sources (e.g., 根據報導 gan1 geoi3 bou3 dou6 - 'according to reports'). Do not use '根據我' by itself to mean 'According to me' (use 我覺得 (ngo5 gok3 dak1) instead). However, it is perfectly fine to start a larger noun phrase, like 根據我嘅觀察 (gan1 geoi3 ngo5 ge3 gun1 caat3 - According to my observation). For casual hearsay, speakers often prefer 聽...講 (teng1... gong2). For everyday instructions or rules, 照 (ziu3) or 照住 (ziu3 zyu6) are the natural spoken equivalents.

Examples (4)

  1. 根據天文台預測，聽日會落大雨。

    According to the Observatory's forecast, it will rain heavily tomorrow.

    Word by Word: According to Observatory forecast, tomorrow will fall big rain.

    Here, 根據 (gan1 geoi3) introduces the authoritative source (the Observatory) before the main prediction.

  2. 啲警察根據現場留低嘅證物搵到個賊仔。

    The police found the thief based on the evidence left at the scene.

    Word by Word: [Plural] police according to scene leave behind [possessive] evidence find [result] [classifier] thief.

    This shows the prepositional/coverb use where an action (finding the thief) is based on specific evidence.

  3. 你噉樣講有冇根據㗎？

    Do you have any basis for saying that?

    Word by Word: You this way speak have not have basis [particle]?

    In this sentence, 根據 (gan1 geoi3) is used as a noun meaning 'grounds' or 'basis' for a claim.

  4. 根據佢所講，件事好似好複雜。

    According to what he said, the matter seems very complicated.

    Word by Word: According to he [relative marker] say, [classifier] matter seems very complicated.

    根據 (gan1 geoi3) can attach directly to phrases like 佢講 (what he said) or 佢所講 to cite a person's testimony.

Common Mistakes

  • Placing the source at the end of the sentence (English word order).

    聽日會落雨根據天文台。
    根據天文台預測，聽日會落雨。

    In Cantonese, the 'According to [Source]' phrase must precede the main clause. You cannot tack it onto the end like in English.

  • Using 根據 in a casual hearsay sentence where 聽...講 is more natural.

    Different Meaning根據阿明講，今晚有派對。
    聽阿明講，今晚有派對。

    根據阿明講 is grammatical, but 根據 (gan1 geoi3) sounds stiff for a friend's party. For casual hearsay, use 聽...講 (teng1... gong2) or 聽...話 (teng1... waa6).

  • Using 根據我 by itself to express a personal opinion (e.g., 'According to me').

    根據我，呢間餐廳唔好食。
    喺我睇嚟，呢間餐廳唔好食。

    You cannot use 根據我 (gan1 geoi3 ngo5) by itself to mean 'According to me'. Instead, use 我覺得 (ngo5 gok3 dak1) or 喺我睇嚟 (hai2 ngo5 tai2 lai4) to say 'In my view'. Note that 根據我 is perfectly fine when starting a larger noun phrase, like 根據我嘅觀察 (According to my observation).

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

根據Level 4According to (Formal)

Learn This First

根據 (gan1 geoi3) is a formal coverb used primarily in news, reports, and academic contexts to cite a source or basis for a statement. To understand it, learners should be familiar with how coverbs (prepositions) function in Cantonese to introduce phrases before the main verb, and have some exposure to formal or written-style Cantonese vocabulary.

Words in This Pattern

根据