据报道称

Using it is pretty straightforward. You just stick it at the beginning of your sentence, right before you drop the news. The basic formula is: 据报道称，[the piece of information]. It sets the stage perfectly. For example, if you read that a new high-speed train line is opening, you'd say: 据报道称，一条新的高铁线路即将开通。 (According to reports, a new high-speed rail line is about to open.) See? Simple. You just state the source (reports) and then deliver the news. It works for almost any piece of information you get from a third party.

This is where 据报道称 really has a specific role. It's on the formal side of the spectrum. You'll see it constantly in news broadcasts, read it in academic papers, and use it in professional emails or reports. It gives your statement weight and credibility. However, you probably wouldn't use it when texting your friend about a new bubble tea flavor. That would be like wearing a tuxedo to go grocery shopping. A bit much, right? For casual chats, you’d use something simpler like 听说 (tīngshuō - 'I heard'). So, save 据报道称 for when you need to sound serious and well-researched.

• In a work email: 据报道称，我们的竞争对手下个季度将发布一款新产品。 (According to reports, our competitor will release a new product next quarter.)
• Discussing current events: 据报道称，这次的国际会议将讨论气候变化问题。 (Reports say the upcoming international conference will discuss climate change issues.)
• On a social media post about tech news: 据报道称，最新的手机型号将配备更强大的摄像头。#科技新闻 (Reportedly, the latest phone model will be equipped with a more powerful camera. #TechNews)
• Reading a documentary subtitle: The narrator might say, 据报道称，这个古老的遗址可以追溯到五千年前。 (It is reported that this ancient ruin dates back five thousand years.)

Pull out this phrase when you are sharing information that is public knowledge but not your own firsthand experience. It's perfect for:

• Citing news articles, TV reports, or online publications.
• Discussing facts from a study or official document.
• Writing a research paper or a formal presentation.
• Wanting to create a clear separation between the reported facts and your own analysis.

It makes you sound like you've done your homework. It’s the linguistic equivalent of providing a footnote in a conversation.

Avoid 据报道称 in a few key situations. Don't use it for your own personal opinions or feelings. Saying 据报道称，我觉得这部电影很无聊 (Reportedly, I think this movie is boring) makes no sense. Who reported on your feelings? Your diary? Also, don't use it for casual gossip or rumors. It's too formal and makes the gossip sound weirdly official. Stick to 听说 for that. And finally, if you saw something with your own eyes, don't use it! It would be strange to say 据报道称，我刚刚看到了一只猫 (Reportedly, I just saw a cat).

One of the biggest mistakes is using it for personal observations. It creates a weird, illogical sentence.

(Mistake: Reporting on something you saw yourself. Correction: Just state what you saw.)

Another error is using it for trivial, everyday information that doesn't need a source.

(Mistake: Who is reporting on your lunch? The Sandwich News Network? Correction: Just say what you ate.)

Chinese offers a few different ways to cite information, each with a slightly different flavor.

• 据悉 (jùxī): This is a very common and slightly more concise version. It means "It is understood that..." or "Reportedly." It's also formal and frequently used in journalism.
• 据说 (jùshuō): This is the more casual cousin. It means "It is said that..." or "I heard that..." This is perfect for everyday conversations and rumors. It's the 'word on the street' version.
• 有报道称 (yǒu bàodào chēng): This means "There are reports that say..." It's very similar to 据报道称 and is used in the same formal contexts. It just phrases it slightly differently, emphasizing that such reports exist.

Is 据报道称 only for written Chinese?

No, you'll hear it in formal speech, like news broadcasts or presentations, but it's much more common in writing.

Can I use it to talk about a rumor?

It's better not to. 据报道称 implies a credible, public source like a newspaper. For rumors, 据说 is a much better fit.

What’s the difference between 据报道称 and 据悉?

They are very similar and often interchangeable in formal contexts. 据悉 is a bit more concise and can feel slightly more like 'it is understood' from inside sources, while 据报道称 points more directly to public reports.