<p>I don't think you guys are completely understanding it, there is a philosophical difference in the two words. It's possible to 有方法但是没办法. 方法 refers to the general method or way something can be done. 方 means prescribed, 法 here can be understood as way. </p>

<p>So 方法 is the general or prescribed way something is done that humanity has discovered. 办 means doing，法 here also means way. 办法 refers to someone specific actually doing it. For example:</p>

<p>我的病其实治疗方法很简单，就是每天跑步。但是没办法，因为城市太拥挤所以没有地方跑。Here, I know the way to cure my illness, but I can't specifically carry it out due to individual circumstances. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2015-11-18T01:14:27.627Z
2019-04-22T08:21:15.460Z
2019-04-22T08:21:15.460Z
Maggie
<p>方法 - Usually we used to express it by giving/request "method" to solve the problems.</p>

<pre><code>Example : 你用什么方法去解决?　what method do you use to solve it?
Example : 我觉得这方法不错?  i think this is the good method.
</code></pre>

<p>办法 - Usually we used to express it by giving/request "idea"</p>

<pre><code>Example : 你有什么办法来解决这件事吗？ Do you have any idea how to solve this problem?
Example : 我有办法！I have an idea! 
</code></pre>

<p>　</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-22T08:39:19.273Z
方法 is **abstract**.frequently used in technical and academic context.
办法 is **specific**.
sfy
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-22T11:28:27.190Z
Not always. Both 方法 and 办法 can be specific. Also 办法 is solution/method, something that provided by a person. 方法 is the method to do something / way to solve a problem / etc. (not necessary given by a person)
Pete C.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-22T06:54:00.257Z
2014-09-22T07:12:28.060Z
2014-09-22T07:12:28.060Z
user3835327
<p>To translate simply, 方法 means "method" / "manner" / "means" (as you said), and 办法 means "solution".</p>

<p>Note, however, that 办法 only applies to solutions that involve a plan of action.  You cannot, for example, call <em>x = 3</em> a 办法 to the equation <em>x + 7 = 10</em>.  Rather, that would be a 答案 ("answer").</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-22T10:06:00.407Z
2014-09-22T11:13:38.047Z
2014-09-22T11:13:38.047Z
200_success
<p>方法：method
办法：solution</p>

<p>Translate this way for every context, it'll simply make sense.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-23T07:13:55.867Z
Enlightening! But what is your source of credibility? http://www.college.columbia.edu/academics/integrity-sourcecredibility
George Chen
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-23T05:47:03.467Z
2014-09-23T05:47:03.467Z
tactoth
<p>from <a href="https://www.italki.com/en/post/question-234865" rel="nofollow noreferrer">italki</a>：&quot;方法是一种解决问题的思路，具有远见性；办法是解决问题的具体操作，具有被动性。&quot;</p>
<p>from <a href="https://zh.hinative.com/questions/15851454" rel="nofollow noreferrer">hinative</a>：&quot;两个意思相似，办法一般用于口语，方法一般用于书面语&quot;, &quot;办法侧重于idea,方法侧重于the way to do sth.”</p>
<p>from <a href="https://www.zhihu.com/question/22009215" rel="nofollow noreferrer">zhihu</a>：</p>
<ol>
<li>&quot;「方」是方向，所以带有开辟新路的意思。「办」是处理，所以更具实际操作性。&quot;</li>
<li>“办法”的应用范围大泛指解决的手段，且多用于口语；而“方法”则显狭义，犹如波斯基所说的形成规范、带步骤的解决办法，更有系统性。当然两者存在一定的语义交叉部分。”</li>
</ol>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-06-26T05:40:25.700Z
2023-06-26T05:40:25.700Z
jimy
<p>Briefly speaking:</p>

<ul>
<li>办法 is more about solving problems (solutions).</li>
<li>方法 is more about the ways (methods) to do something.</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-05-03T17:33:48.337Z
2017-05-03T17:33:48.337Z
Alan Zhiliang Feng
<h2>办法 is simply 办事的方法.</h2>

<p>This has nothing to do with colloquialism or technicality. Both are common words used in daily speech and writing.</p>

<p>Simply put:</p>

<p>方法 = method, way or solution<br>
办法 = method for handling or doing something</p>

<p>From the above, it is not hard to see that, 方法 is more generic than 办法. 办法 can only be used on methods that are actionable. 没办法 implies there is no way something can be <em>done</em>. 没方法 means there is no solution yet.</p>

<p>If the method is <em>non-actionable</em>, you would have to use 方法. For example:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>What are the common <b>ways</b> for a knight to defeat a bishop at the end-game?<br>
  单马胜单士残局有哪几种常见破解<b>方法</b>?</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-22T07:39:39.393Z
2014-09-22T07:39:39.393Z
杨以轩
<p>Both have comparable definitions of "method", "manner", "means", etc. and describe or define a way of doing something.  The phrase 没(有)办法 is often used to deflect responsibility by claiming powerlessness.  Aside from being more common in colloquial speech, does this make 办法 more general?  Anecdotally, 方法 is encountered frequently in instructions.  Does this make 方法 more technical?</p>

<word-choice><usage><synonyms>
What is the Difference Between 方法 and 办法?
# What is the Difference Between 方法 and 办法?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-09-22)

Both have comparable definitions of "method", "manner", "means", etc. and describe or define a way of doing something. The phrase 没(有)办法 is often used to deflect responsibility by claiming powerlessness. Aside from being more common in colloquial speech, does this make 办法 more general? Anecdotally, 方法 is encountered frequently in instructions. Does this make 方法 more technical?

**Tags:** word-choice, usage, synonyms


---

## 7 answers

### Answer by username_10 on 2014-09-22. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

## 办法 is simply 办事的方法.

This has nothing to do with colloquialism or technicality. Both are common words used in daily speech and writing.

Simply put:

方法 = method, way or solution  
办法 = method for handling or doing something

From the above, it is not hard to see that, 方法 is more generic than 办法. 办法 can only be used on methods that are actionable. 没办法 implies there is no way something can be *done*. 没方法 means there is no solution yet.

If the method is *non-actionable*, you would have to use 方法. For example:

> What are the common **ways** for a knight to defeat a bishop at the end-game?  
> 单马胜单士残局有哪几种常见破解**方法**?


---

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-11-18. Score: 9

I don't think you guys are completely understanding it, there is a philosophical difference in the two words. It's possible to 有方法但是没办法. 方法 refers to the general method or way something can be done. 方 means prescribed, 法 here can be understood as way.

So 方法 is the general or prescribed way something is done that humanity has discovered. 办 means doing，法 here also means way. 办法 refers to someone specific actually doing it. For example:

我的病其实治疗方法很简单，就是每天跑步。但是没办法，因为城市太拥挤所以没有地方跑。Here, I know the way to cure my illness, but I can't specifically carry it out due to individual circumstances.


---

### Answer by username_2 on 2014-09-22. Score: 6

方法 - Usually we used to express it by giving/request "method" to solve the problems.
Example : 你用什么方法去解决?　what method do you use to solve it?
Example : 我觉得这方法不错?  i think this is the good method.

办法 - Usually we used to express it by giving/request "idea"
Example : 你有什么办法来解决这件事吗？ Do you have any idea how to solve this problem?
Example : 我有办法！I have an idea!

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: 方法 is **abstract**.frequently used in technical and academic context. 办法 is **specific**.  
> **username_4**: Not always. Both 方法 and 办法 can be specific. Also 办法 is solution/method, something that provided by a person. 方法 is the method to do something / way to solve a problem / etc. (not necessary given by a person)  

---

### Answer by username_5 on 2014-09-22. Score: 2

To translate simply, 方法 means "method" / "manner" / "means" (as you said), and 办法 means "solution".

Note, however, that 办法 only applies to solutions that involve a plan of action. You cannot, for example, call *x = 3* a 办法 to the equation *x + 7 = 10*. Rather, that would be a 答案 ("answer").


---

### Answer by username_6 on 2014-09-23. Score: 1

方法：method
办法：solution

Translate this way for every context, it'll simply make sense.

> **Comments:**
> **username_7**: Enlightening! But what is your source of credibility? http://www.college.columbia.edu/academics/integrity-sourcecredibility  

---

### Answer by username_8 on 2023-06-26. Score: 1

from [italki](https://www.italki.com/en/post/question-234865)："方法是一种解决问题的思路，具有远见性；办法是解决问题的具体操作，具有被动性。"

from [hinative](https://zh.hinative.com/questions/15851454)："两个意思相似，办法一般用于口语，方法一般用于书面语", "办法侧重于idea,方法侧重于the way to do sth.”

from [zhihu](https://www.zhihu.com/question/22009215)：

1. "「方」是方向，所以带有开辟新路的意思。「办」是处理，所以更具实际操作性。"
2. “办法”的应用范围大泛指解决的手段，且多用于口语；而“方法”则显狭义，犹如波斯基所说的形成规范、带步骤的解决办法，更有系统性。当然两者存在一定的语义交叉部分。”


---

### Answer by username_9 on 2017-05-03. Score: 0

Briefly speaking:

* 办法 is more about solving problems (solutions).
* 方法 is more about the ways (methods) to do something.


---

