Definition
合同 (hétong) is the standard term for a legally binding contract, used in everyday business and legal settings. Compared to 协议 (xiéyì), which is a broader 'agreement' (and also a verb) that may or may not be legally binding, 合同 specifically implies a formal, signed document. The rarer words 合约 (héyuē) and 契约 (qìyuē) are more formal/legalistic synonyms typically encountered in advanced contexts.
noun
contract
Measure word · 个
Examples
- 合同。Wǒmen hé gōngsī qiān le yí gè hé tóng.We signed a contract with the company.
- 合同。Zhège hé tóng de xìjié hěn qīngchu.The details of this contract are very clear.
- 合同。Tāmen zhèngzài tǎolùn hé tóng de nèiróng.They are discussing the content of the contract.
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