The principle of formula-syndrome differentiation means selecting appropriate therapeutic formulas based on the specific syndrome of a disease.Based on the fundamental concept of formula-syndrome differentiation，combined with clinical practice，this study suggests that at the foundational level，formula-syndrome differentiation can provide insights into the indications and mechanisms of action of formulas，as well as the laws governing the development of diseases and the essence of syndromes.On the practical level，it can guide the inheritance of clinical experience from traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) practitioners and exploration of clinical efficacy evaluation methods，guidelines，and clinical pathways that are in line with the characteristics of TCM，and offer new models for reforming TCM education.