合约

• Pinyin: hé yuē
• Hanzi breakdown: 合 = 亼 (gather) + 口 (mouth), meaning together; 约 = 纟 (silk) + 勺 (ladle), meaning to bind

Meaning

Contract; agreement. A formal, legally binding document between parties.

Used interchangeably with 合同, though 合约 can sound slightly more formal or international. Common collocations: 签订合约 (sign a contract), 违反合约 (breach contract), 合约期 (contract period). Common in entertainment (艺人合约), sports, and business.

Examples

1. 他和公司签了三年的合约，在这期间不能为其他品牌代言。 He signed a three-year contract with the company, during which he cannot endorse other brands.
2. 由于对方违反合约条款，我们决定通过法律途径解决问题。 Since the other party violated the contract terms, we decided to resolve the issue through legal channels.
3. 续约谈判进行得很顺利，双方很快就达成了新的合约。 The renewal negotiations went smoothly, and both sides quickly reached a new contract.

Usage Guide

Context: business, entertainment, legal

Tone: official

Do Say

• 我们已经签了合约。(We've already signed the contract.)
• 合约明天到期。(The contract expires tomorrow.)

Don't Say

• 日常口头约定用合约 (Don't use 合约 for casual verbal agreements — it implies formal written contracts)

Origin & History

Compound of 合 (together, joint) + 约 (agreement, bind). Represents parties coming together in agreement.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal