依: according to, going by (依你看, 依法, 依……而定)
【高53】介词 / prepositions (凭借、依据)
Tone colorsā tone 1á tone 2ǎ tone 3à tone 4a neutral
依 is a light preposition that introduces what you go by: “according to, in line with”. It takes a person, a plan, a rule or the law: 依你看, 依我看 (“in your / my view”), 依你的方案, 依年龄, 依法. With a person it suggests you defer to them: 这件事就依你的方案做吧 (“let's go with your plan”).
You mostly meet it in a few moulds: 依……而定 (“depends on…”: 依情况而定), 依法 (in accordance with the law), 依我看 (as I see it). The character also sits in 依据 and 依旧, but 依靠 means “to rely on”, not “to follow”.
Against its neighbours: 按照 points to a rule or a standard; 根据 bases a conclusion on evidence or data; 依 is lighter, shorter and more personal.
Examples
这件事就依你的方案做吧。
Zhè jiàn shì jiù yī nǐ de fāngàn zuò ba.Let's go with your plan on this.
依你看，这件事该怎么解决？
Yī nǐ kàn, zhè jiàn shì gāi zěnme jiějué?In your view, how should this be settled?
依我看，我们不必急着下结论。
Yī wǒ kàn, wǒmen bú bì jízhe xià jiélùn.As I see it, there is no need to rush to a conclusion.
孩子们依年龄大小排成了三队。
Háizimen yī niánlíng dàxiǎo pái chéng le sān duì.The children lined up in three rows according to age.
任何人都必须依法纳税。
Rènhé rén dōu bìxū yīfǎ nàshuì.Everyone must pay taxes in accordance with the law.
具体的赔偿标准，要依受损程度而定。
Jùtǐ de péicháng biāozhǔn, yào yī shòusǔn chéngdù ér dìng.The exact compensation standard depends on the extent of the damage.
Common mistakes
✗ 依这些数据证明了他的看法。 → ✓ 根据这些数据，可以证明他的看法。 (data that support a conclusion call for 根据).
✗ 依你看起来 → ✓ 依你看 (the formula is fixed: no 起来).
✗ 他依靠我的方案做了。 → ✓ 他依我的方案做了。 (依靠 means “to rely on”, not “to follow”).