据初步调查
According to preliminary investigation
Littéralement: According-to initial-step investigation
Use this to report early findings professionally without overcommitting to the final conclusion.
En 15 secondes
- Used to share early facts while remaining cautious.
- Common in news, business meetings, and formal reports.
- Adds a professional tone to any explanation.
Signification
This phrase is your professional 'safety net.' It's used to share information you've gathered early on while signaling that the full story might change later.
Exemples clés
3 sur 6Reporting a work error to a boss
据初步调查，系统崩溃是因为流量过大。
According to preliminary investigation, the system crash was due to excessive traffic.
Explaining a delayed meeting to a colleague
据初步调查，会议室的投影仪坏了。
According to preliminary investigation, the meeting room projector is broken.
A news reporter at a scene
据初步调查，火灾是由电线短路引起的。
According to preliminary investigation, the fire was caused by a short circuit.
Contexte culturel
This phrase reflects the 'cautious optimism' and 'prudence' valued in Chinese professional life. It rose to prominence with the growth of modern journalism in China, where reporters needed a standard way to provide updates on breaking news without committing to unverified facts.
The 'Safety' Phrase
Use this when you want to look smart but don't want to be blamed if the facts change later. It's the ultimate corporate shield!
Don't Overuse with Friends
If you use this for every tiny thing like 'According to preliminary investigation, you are late,' your friends might think you're acting like a robot.
En 15 secondes
- Used to share early facts while remaining cautious.
- Common in news, business meetings, and formal reports.
- Adds a professional tone to any explanation.
What It Means
Think of 据初步调查 as a way to say 'from what I've seen so far.' It is a very common phrase in news and business. It tells people you have some facts, but you aren't claiming to know everything yet. It sounds responsible and cautious. You are basically saying, 'Here is the news, but don't quote me as the final word.'
How To Use It
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.
When To Use It
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.
When NOT To Use It
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.
Cultural Background
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.
Common Variations
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.
Notes d'usage
This is a high-register expression. It is most at home in written reports or formal speech, but can be used ironically in casual settings to sound mock-authoritative.
The 'Safety' Phrase
Use this when you want to look smart but don't want to be blamed if the facts change later. It's the ultimate corporate shield!
Don't Overuse with Friends
If you use this for every tiny thing like 'According to preliminary investigation, you are late,' your friends might think you're acting like a robot.
The Power of 'Preliminary'
In China, admitting something is 'preliminary' (`初步`) is seen as a sign of honesty and thoroughness, not a lack of knowledge.
Exemples
6据初步调查，系统崩溃是因为流量过大。
According to preliminary investigation, the system crash was due to excessive traffic.
This sounds much more professional than just saying 'I think the server died.'
据初步调查，会议室的投影仪坏了。
According to preliminary investigation, the meeting room projector is broken.
Using a formal phrase for a small problem can be slightly humorous or very polite.
据初步调查，火灾是由电线短路引起的。
According to preliminary investigation, the fire was caused by a short circuit.
This is the classic, textbook usage of the phrase.
据初步调查，这家店今天休息。
According to my preliminary investigation, this shop is closed today.
Using this in a text adds a funny, 'detective' vibe to a simple observation.
据初步调查，你好像忘了我们的纪念日。
According to my preliminary investigation, it seems you forgot our anniversary.
A playful way to bring up a sensitive topic using 'official' language.
据初步调查，您的包裹在运输途中耽搁了。
According to preliminary investigation, your package was delayed in transit.
Standard customer service language in China.
Teste-toi
Choose the correct phrase to complete the news report about a traffic jam.
___，前方路段发生了交通事故。
While the other options mean 'I heard' or 'probably,' only '据初步调查' provides the formal, investigative tone required for a report.
Complete the sentence to explain why the office is cold.
___，空调系统正在维修中。
This phrase sets up the explanation as a factual finding rather than a guess or a dream.
🎉 Score : /2
Aides visuelles
Formality of 'According to...'
I heard...
我听说 (Wǒ tīngshuō)
Based on what I see...
看样子 (Kàn yàngzi)
According to preliminary investigation...
据初步调查 (Jù chūbù diàochá)
According to the final official report...
根据最终调查报告 (Gēnjù zuìzhōng diàochá bàogào)
Where to use 据初步调查
News Report
Reporting a sudden event
Business Meeting
Explaining a project delay
Customer Service
Updating a client on an issue
Mock-Serious Gossip
Finding out who ate the last snack
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNot at all! While it sounds like detective talk, it's used by office workers, journalists, and even students reporting on a project.
Yes, but it will sound very formal. Usually, people use it in texts to be funny or to sound like they are doing a serious 'investigation' into something silly.
据 is a shorter, more formal version of 根据. In the phrase 据初步调查, using 据 is much more common and sounds more like a news headline.
Exactly. 初 means beginning and 步 means step. So it literally means the 'first steps' of looking into something.
Yes! For example: 据初步调查，大家对新产品的反馈非常好。 (According to preliminary investigation, everyone's feedback on the new product is great.)
Yes, it is very appropriate for the 'Results' or 'Discussion' section of a paper when you are discussing early data.
You would say 据我的调查. However, adding 初步 (preliminary) makes it sound more professional and less like a personal opinion.
Then you should use 据传 (jùchuán) or 据说 (jùshuō) instead. 调查 implies you actually looked for evidence.
In most cases, yes. It acts as an introductory phrase, so a comma helps the reader pause before the main information.
The opposite would be 最终 (zuìzhōng), meaning 'final.' So, 据最终调查 would be 'According to the final investigation.'
Expressions liées
据统计
According to statistics
据了解
According to our understanding/information
根据报道
According to reports
由此可见
From this, it can be seen that...
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