Correct

按 vs 按照 vs 依照

/ àn vs ànzhào vs yīzhào /
Strokes

Formula

1
按……说
2
按……讲

Definition

按 is a Preposition or Verb, 按照 is a Preposition, and 依照 is a Preposition, which all means [according to].

Here we only discuss the meaning of the three as prepositions.

Example

按, 按照 and 依照, these three words are all Prepositions, all the three mean "to take something as evidence or basis" and sometimes are interchangeable.
Among them 按 is also used as a Verb, meaning "to press with a hand or a finger" (e.g.to press the electric bell), "to restrain" (e.g. can't restrain one's anger )" according to the note" (e.g.editor's note), etc., all of which have little to do with the connotation of 按 as a preposition.
1
Àn
  
(
ànzhào
按照
  
)
  
(
zhào
依照
  
)
jīng
经理
de
zhǐshì
指示
  
,
zhè
shì
yīnggāi
应该
zhèyàng
这样
bàn
  

According to the instruction from the manager,the matter should be handled this way.

2
méiyǒu
没有
àn
  
(
ànzhào
按照
  
)
  
(
zhào
依照
  
)
guīdìng
规定
shuì
纳税
  
,
bèi
le
kuǎn
  

He is fined because he didn't pay taxes according to the requirements.

按 and 按照 stress doing something under certain condition while 依照 stresses that an action is not groundless and the statement is more formal and literary.
In the following more colloquial speech, 按 is usually used to mean "under certain conditions". 按照 can also be used in some cases.
3
Qǐng
àn
次序
shàngchē
上车
  

Please get on the bus in turn.

4
Àn
  
(
ànzhào
按照
  
)
de
jiàn
意见
  
,
men
我们
yīnggāi
应该
míngtiān
明天
zǎoshang
早上
chū
出发
  

In my opinion we should set off tomorrow morning.

按 is often replaced by 按着, 按……说, 按……讲.
按……说 按……讲
5
àn
zhāo
  
(
ànzhào
按照
  
)
míngpiàn
名片
shàng
de
zhǐ
地址
zhǎodào
找到
liǎo
zhāngxiānsheng
张先生
de
jiā
  

He found Mr.Zhang's house by the address on the visiting card.

6
Àn
dàoli
道理
shuō
  
,
jīntiān
今天
yīnggāi
应该
men
我们
yànqǐng
宴请
men
你们
  

Of course, we should have held a banquet in honor of you.

A personal pronoun can be inserted before 说 or 讲.
7
Àn
shuō
  
,
yīnggāi
应该
gěi
bàochou
报酬
  

In my view, he should be paid.

8
Zhāngxiānsheng
张先生
  
,
àn
zhème
这么
jiǎng
  
,
men
我们
dōu
cuò
le
  

Mr. Zhang, in your opinion, we are all wrong.

按 can be used with monosyllabic words but 按照 and 依照 cannot.
9
Àn
suàn
计算

counting daily

10
Àn
yuè
gěi
发给

paying monthly

11
Àn
rén
fēnpèi
分配

distributing according to the number of people

12
Ànzhìlúnjià
按质论价

fixing the price according to quality

Since 依照 stresses act in accordance with rules and regulations, it is usually usec in sentences relating to law, as follows:
13
zhào
依照
jiāotōng
交通
guī
法规
第五
tiáo
  
,
zhèzhǒng
这种
xíngwéi
行为
yīnggāi
应该
chǔ
处以
kuǎn
罚款
  

According to the Fifth Clause of the Traffic Regulations, this act should be fined.

14
Zhè
jiàn
shì
必须
zhào
依照
法律
guīdìng
规定
予以
jiějué
解决
  

This matter should be solved according to the law.