按照

按照 means 'according to' or 'in accordance with' in English. It is used to indicate that something is done following a specific rule, standard, or instruction.

The character 按 (àn) originally meant 'to press' or 'to apply,' and it later came to mean 'according to' or 'based on.' 照 (zhào) means 'to illuminate' or 'to follow,' and when combined with 按, it forms the phrase meaning 'to follow according to' or 'as per.'

按照 is commonly used in formal and informal contexts to show compliance with rules, guidelines, or expectations. It appears in instructions, legal documents, and everyday conversations. For example, you might say 按照说明 (according to the instructions) or 按照规定 (according to the regulations).