# Chinese (Mandarin) — General Legal Sub-Lexicon

Auto-generated from translation experience. Maps Chinese (Mandarin) general legal terms
to their correct English equivalents.

## Universal Legal Terms

| Chinese | English |
|---|---|
| 合同 / 协议 | contract / agreement |
| 合同方 / 当事人 | party |
| 条款 / 规定 | Section (US default) / Clause (UK) / provision |
| 条 | article / section |
| 款 | paragraph / sub-section |
| 项 | item / sub-paragraph |
| 鉴于条款 / 前言 | recitals / preamble |
| 定义 | definitions |
| 期限 | term / duration |
| 解除 / 终止 | termination / rescission |
| 续期 / 续展 | renewal |
| 转让 | assignment / transfer |
| 代位 / 代位权 | subrogation |
| 抵销 | set-off |
| 修订 / 变更 | amendment / modification |
| 弃权 / 放弃 | waiver |
| 通知 | notice |
| 声明 | declaration / statement |
| 义务 | obligation |
| 权利 | right |
| 责任 | duty / liability |
| 民事责任 | civil liability |
| 赔偿 / 补偿 | indemnity / compensation |
| 损害赔偿 | damages |
| 预期利润损失 | loss of profit |
| 直接损失 | direct loss / actual loss |
| 不可抗力 | force majeure |
| 诚实信用 / 诚信 | good faith |
| 过失 / 疏忽 | negligence |
| 过错 | fault |
| 故意 | wilful misconduct (UK) / willful misconduct (US) |
| 违约解除 | termination for breach |
| 违约 / 违反 | breach / default |
| 履行 | performance / compliance |
| 继续履行 / 实际履行 | specific performance |
| 保证 / 担保 | guarantee / warranty |
| 保证金 / 押金 | security deposit / bond |
| 质押 | pledge |
| 抵押 | mortgage |
| 委托书 / 授权书 | power of attorney |
| 委托 / 代理 | mandate / agency |
| 自然人 | natural person / individual |
| 法人 | legal person / legal entity |
| 适用法律 / 准据法 | governing law / applicable law |
| 管辖 / 管辖权 | jurisdiction |
| 仲裁庭 | arbitral tribunal |
| 调解 | mediation |
| 诉讼时效 | limitation / statute of limitations |
| 除斥期间 | limitation period (non-extendable) |

## Cross-Reference Conventions

| Chinese | English |
|---|---|
| 根据第X条 | pursuant to article X / under article X |
| 依照 / 按照 | in accordance with |
| 在不影响……的前提下 | without prejudice to |
| 除另有约定外 | unless otherwise agreed |
| 在法律允许的范围内 | to the extent permitted by law |
| 就本合同而言 | for the purposes of this agreement |
| 包括但不限于 | including but not limited to |
| 本合同 | this agreement / the present agreement |
| 违约方 | the defaulting party |
| 守约方 | the non-defaulting party |
| 双方同意 | the parties agree |
| 自……起生效 | shall take effect from |

## Key Chinese Legislative References

| Chinese | English |
|---|---|
| 中华人民共和国民法典 | Civil Code of the People's Republic of China |
| 中华人民共和国民事诉讼法 | Civil Procedure Law |
| 中华人民共和国公司法 | Company Law |
| 中华人民共和国合同法 (已并入民法典) | Contract Law (now incorporated into the Civil Code) |
| 中华人民共和国劳动法 | Labour Law (UK) / Labor Law (US) |
| 中华人民共和国劳动合同法 | Labour Contract Law (UK) / Labor Contract Law (US) |
| 中华人民共和国外商投资法 | Foreign Investment Law |
| 中华人民共和国个人信息保护法 | Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL) |
| 中华人民共和国数据安全法 | Data Security Law (DSL) |
| 中华人民共和国网络安全法 | Cybersecurity Law (CSL) |
| 最高人民法院 | Supreme People's Court (SPC) |
| 司法解释 | judicial interpretation |

## Notes

- **Measure words and legal numbering**: Chinese legal texts use specific numbering
  conventions: 条 (article), 款 (paragraph), 项 (item), 目 (sub-item). Preserve the
  hierarchical structure in translation.
- **"合同" vs "协议"**: Both mean "agreement" but 合同 is more formal (typically used
  for binding contracts), while 协议 is broader and can include non-binding arrangements.
  Default to "contract" for 合同 and "agreement" for 协议 unless context dictates otherwise.
- **Simplified vs Traditional Chinese**: This lexicon uses Simplified Chinese (PRC standard).
  Hong Kong and Taiwan use Traditional Chinese with some different legal terminology. Flag
  when the source may be from a Traditional Chinese jurisdiction.
- **PRC Civil Code (2021)**: The PRC Civil Code, effective January 1, 2021, consolidated
  and replaced several individual statutes including the Contract Law, Property Law, and
  Tort Liability Law. All references should cite the Civil Code rather than the superseded
  individual statutes.
- **"法人"**: In PRC law, a 法人 (legal person) is a broader concept than in common law.
  It includes companies, government organs, public institutions, and social organizations.
  Translate as "legal person" or "legal entity" depending on context.
