‘据称’ is an adverbial phrase meaning ‘it is claimed’ or ‘allegedly’. It combines the character 据 (jù), meaning ‘according to’ or ‘based on’, and 称 (chēng), meaning ‘to state’, ‘to claim’, or ‘to be called’. Together, they literally mean ‘according to what is claimed’, signaling that the following information comes from an unverified or third-party source—not the speaker’s direct knowledge or confirmation. It is commonly used in formal writing, news reports, academic discussions, and official statements to introduce hearsay or reported information while maintaining neutrality and distance from the claim.

This phrase functions like a sentence adverb—it usually appears at the beginning of a clause or sentence and modifies the entire statement that follows. It carries a slightly cautious or skeptical tone, implying the information may not be fully verified. Unlike more casual expressions like ‘听说’ (tīng shuō, ‘I heard’), ‘据称’ is impersonal and objective, avoiding attribution to any specific person or source unless added separately (e.g., ‘据称，专家指出…’). It is rarely used in casual conversation and is far more common in written Chinese.