Understanding contracts

Słownictwo

• 合同contract
• 条款clause / term
• 签署to sign (a document)
• 违约breach of contract
• 赔偿compensation / damages
• 有效期validity period
• 甲方Party A (first party in a contract)
• 乙方Party B (second party in a contract)
• 协议agreement
• 终止合同to terminate a contract

Zwroty

• 甲方和乙方经协商达成以下协议Party A and Party B have reached the following agreement through negotiation — the standard opening of Chinese contracts
• 本合同自双方签署之日起生效This contract takes effect from the date of signature by both parties — the standard effective date clause
• 第三条规定Article 3 stipulates — 第X条 numbers each clause, and 规定 means to stipulate or specify
• 如一方违约，应向另一方支付赔偿金If one party breaches the contract, it shall pay compensation to the other — the standard breach of contract clause
• 任何一方可提前30天书面通知终止合同Either party may terminate with 30 days written notice — 提前 means in advance, 书面通知 means written notice
• 双方同意Both parties agree — used to introduce mutually agreed clauses in a contract, often 双方同意如下

Typowe błędy

• ✗如果一方违反合同，要赔偿另一方。
  ✓如一方违约，应向另一方支付赔偿金。

  In formal legal Chinese, use 如 (not 如果) for conditional clauses. Use 违约 (breach of contract) instead of 违反合同. Use 应 (shall) instead of 要, and the full phrase 支付赔偿金 for formal compensation

• ✗这个合同从两个人签名的那天开始有效。
  ✓本合同自双方签署之日起生效。

  Use 本合同 (this contract) not 这个合同. Use 双方 (both parties) not 两个人 (two people). Use 签署 (sign, formal) not 签名 (sign one name). Use 之日起 (from the date of) and 生效 (take effect) for correct legal phrasing

• ✗第三条说
  ✓第三条规定

  In contracts, 规定 (stipulates / specifies) is the standard verb for introducing what a clause says. 说 is colloquial — legal documents use 规定, 约定, or 载明 instead

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