按照 (àn zhào) — according to in Mandarin
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#974 most common word · HSK 4 · CEFR B1
Pinyin colour key: tone 1 (high flat), tone 2 (rising), tone 3 (dipping), tone 4 (falling), neutral.
Tone breakdown
按照 is pronounced àn zhào. Tap any syllable’s row to hear the whole word.
In a sentence
Qǐng àn zhào shuō míng shū shǐ yòng.
Please use according to the instruction manual.
Hear it, then say it right
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Start freeFrequently asked questions
What does 按照 mean?+
按照 (àn zhào) means "according to" in Mandarin Chinese.
How do you pronounce 按照?+
按照 is pronounced àn zhào. It uses the tone 4 (falling). Tap the character on this page to hear native audio.
How common is 按照 in Mandarin?+
按照 is the #974 most frequent word in spoken Mandarin, so it is one of the first words worth learning.
Where 按照 fits
Every HSK 4 word with tone-coloured pinyin and audio.
Words at a similar frequency
Master the tones first
What each tone sounds like and why it matters.
Why some tones change in connected speech.
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Browse more on the Mandarin vocabulary hub, or read how to learn Mandarin tones.