订立

• Pinyin: dìng lì
• Hanzi breakdown: 订 = 讠+ 丁 (to agree, arrange formally); 立 = pictograph of a person standing upright (to establish, set up)

Meaning

To conclude; to establish; to draw up. Used when formally creating or entering into a binding contract, treaty, or agreement.

Formal and legalistic. Common in law, diplomacy, and business — emphasises the binding, official nature of the act. Typically followed by 合同 (contract), 协议 (agreement), or 条约 (treaty). Stronger than 签订 in conveying that both parties have reached and fixed the terms.

Examples

1. 双方在律师见证下订立了正式的合资经营协议。 With lawyers present as witnesses, both sides formally established a joint venture agreement.
2. 两国政府经过长期谈判，最终订立了具有里程碑意义的贸易条约。 After long negotiations, the two governments ultimately concluded a landmark trade treaty.
3. 公司与核心供应商订立了为期五年的独家供货合同，锁定原材料成本。 The company entered into a five-year exclusive supply contract with its key supplier, locking in raw material costs.

Usage Guide

Context: law, diplomacy, business, contracts

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 双方经协商一致，正式订立了具有法律约束力的合作框架协议。(After reaching consensus through negotiation, both parties formally concluded a legally binding framework cooperation agreement.)
• 历史上，两国订立的互不侵犯条约在一定程度上维护了地区的短暂和平。(Historically, the non-aggression treaty concluded by the two countries maintained a degree of temporary regional peace.)

Don't Say

• 我们订立了一个约好见面的计划 — use 我们约好了见面 or 我们制定了计划; 订立 collocates with formal legal instruments, not casual arrangements

Origin & History

订 (agree/conclude) + 立 (establish/set up)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal