中华人民共和国合同法
CONTRACT LAW OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
Translated & Compiled by John Jiang & Henry Liu
总则
GENERAL PRINCIPLES
第一章一般规定
Chapter One: General Provisions
第一条为了保护合同当事人的合法权益，维护社会经济秩序，促进社会主义现代化建设，制定本法。
Article 1 Purpose
This Law is formulated in order to protect the lawful rights and interests of contract parties, to safeguard social and economic order, and to promote socialist modernization.
第二条本法所称合同是平等主体的自然人、法人、其他组织之间设立、变更、终止民事权利义务关系的协议。
Article 2 Definition of Contract; Exclusions
For purposes of this Law, a contract is an agreement between natural persons, legal persons or other organizations with equal standing, for the purpose of establishing, altering, or discharging a relationship of civil rights and obligations.
婚姻、收养、监护等有关身份关系的协议，适用其他法律的规定。
An agreement concerning any personal relationship such as marriage, adoption, guardianship, etc. shall be governed by other applicable laws.
第三条合同当事人的法律地位平等，一方不得将自己的意志强加给另一方。
Article 3 Equal Standing of Parties
Contract parties enjoy equal legal standing and neither party may impose its will on the other party.
第四条当事人依法享有自愿订立合同的权利，任何单位和个人不得非法干预。
Article 4 Right to Enter into Contract V oluntarily
A party is entitled to enter into a contract voluntarily under the law, and no entity or individual may unlawfully interfere with such right.
第五条当事人应当遵循公平原则确定各方的权利和义务。
Article 5 Fairness
The parties shall abide by the principle of fairness in prescribing their respective rights and obligations.
第六条当事人行使权利、履行义务应当遵循诚实信用原则。
Article 6 Good Faith
The parties shall abide by the principle of good faith in exercising their rights and performing their
obligations.
第七条当事人订立、履行合同，应当遵守法律、行政法规，尊重社会公德，不得扰乱社会经济秩序，损害社会公共利益。
Article 7 Legality
In concluding or performing a contract, the parties shall abide by the relevant laws and administrative regulations, as well as observe social ethics, and may not disrupt social and economic order or harm the public interests.
第八条依法成立的合同，对当事人具有法律约束力。当事人应当按照约定履行自己的义务，不得擅自变更或者解除合同。
Article 8 Binding Effect, Legal Protection
A lawfully formed contract is legally binding on the parties. The parties shall perform their respective obligations in accordance with the contract, and neither party may arbitrarily amend or terminate the contract.
依法成立的合同，受法律保护。
A lawfully formed contract is protected by law.
第二章合同的订立
Chapter Two: Formation of Contracts
第九条当事人订立合同，应当具有相应的民事权利能力和民事行为能力。
Article 9 Capacity
Contract through Agent In entering into a contract, the parties shall have the appropriate capacities for civil rights and civil acts.
当事人依法可以委托代理人订立合同。
A party may appoint an agent to enter into a contract on its behalf under the law.
第十条当事人订立合同，有书面形式、口头形式和其他形式。
Article 10 Forms of Contract, Writing Requirement
A contract may be made in writing, in an oral conversation, as well as in any other form.
法律、行政法规规定采用书面形式的，应当采用书面形式。当事人约定采用书面形式的，应当采用书面形式。
A contract shall be in writing if a relevant law or administrative regulation so requires. A contract shall be in writing if the parties have so agreed.
第十一条书面形式是指合同书、信件和数据电文（包括电报、电传、传真、电子数据交换和电子邮件）等可以有形地表现所载内容的形式。
Article 11 Definition of Writing
A writing means a memorandum of contract, letter or electronic message (including telegram, telex, facsimile, electronic data exchange and electronic mail), etc. which is capable of expressing