合同

• Pinyin: hé tóng
• Hanzi breakdown: 合 = 人 (person) + 一 (one) + 口 (mouth) — people coming together in agreement; 同 = 冂 (enclosure) + 一 + 口 — sharing the same voice

Meaning

Contract; agreement. A formal written agreement between two or more parties that is legally binding.

Used in business, employment, and legal contexts. Common collocations include 签合同 (sign a contract), 合同期 (contract period), 劳动合同 (labour contract), and 租房合同 (rental contract). An essential word in professional and commercial life in China.

Examples

1. 我们下周一签合同。 We will sign the contract next Monday.
2. 请你仔细看一下合同的条件再签字。 Please read the contract terms carefully before signing.
3. 他的劳动合同下个月就到期了。 His employment contract expires next month.

Usage Guide

Context: business, legal, employment

Tone: professional

Do Say

• 我们什么时候签合同？(When do we sign the contract?)
• 合同上写的条件你都同意吗？(Do you agree with all the terms in the contract?)

Don't Say

• 我跟朋友签了一个合同去吃饭 (Don't use 合同 for casual promises between friends — use 约定; 合同 implies a formal legal document)

Origin & History

合 (hé, to combine/agree) + 同 (tóng, same/together) — literally 'agree together,' representing a mutual agreement between parties.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal