据初步调查

You usually put this phrase right at the start of your sentence. It acts like a frame for the information that follows. It is often followed by a comma. For example, 据初步调查，这次事故是由于天气原因。 (According to preliminary investigation, this accident was due to weather.) You can use it for serious things like work errors or lighthearted things like why the office coffee machine is broken.

Use this in any situation where you need to report findings. It is perfect for office meetings when a project hits a snag. It is also great for writing emails to clients about a delay. If you are texting a friend about why a restaurant is closed, it adds a funny, mock-serious tone. It makes you sound like a detective or a news anchor.

Avoid this for things that are totally obvious or personal feelings. You wouldn't say 据初步调查 to explain why you are hungry. That would sound very weird! Also, don't use it if the investigation is actually finished. If you have the final report, use 根据调查结果 instead. Using 'preliminary' when you have final facts makes you look indecisive.

In Chinese culture, speaking with 'leeway' or 留余地 is highly valued. People avoid making absolute statements if there is any chance of being wrong. This phrase is a linguistic tool for that caution. It shows you are a 'steady' person who doesn't jump to conclusions. It became a staple of modern Mandarin through news broadcasting and legal reporting.

You can swap out 'investigation' for other words. 据初步统计 means 'according to preliminary statistics.' 据初步了解 means 'according to our initial understanding.' If you want to sound even more formal, you can use 根据初步调查. The shorter 据 is punchier and more common in written reports.