約款

• Reading: やっかん
• Romaji: yakkan
• Kanji breakdown: 約 (yaku) — agreement, promise; 款 (kan) — clause, article, provision
• Pronunciation: /jakkaɴ/

Meaning

Terms and conditions; contractual provisions; the standardised clauses forming a contract or policy.

Refers to the specific clauses and provisions that form the terms of a contract, insurance policy, or formal agreement. 普通約款 (standard terms) and 特別約款 (special provisions) are common distinctions in insurance law. Unlike 条項 (clause), 約款 often denotes a standardised set of pre-printed terms used in adhesion contracts where one party unilaterally sets the terms.

Examples

1. 保険契約を結ぶ際は、約款の内容を十分に確認することが重要だ。 When entering into an insurance contract, it is important to carefully review the terms and conditions.
2. 普通約款に記載のない事項については、別途協議の上で決定する。 Matters not covered by the standard terms and conditions shall be determined through separate consultations.
3. 消費者契約法は不当な約款条項を無効とすることができる。 The Consumer Contract Act can render unreasonable contractual clauses invalid.

Usage Guide

Context: legal, insurance, contracts, consumer law

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 約 (promise, agreement) and 款 (clause, article — also found in 条款, provisions). The character 款 carries the sense of an item or section in a formal document, emphasising the structured, article-by-article nature of contract terms.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Business/Legal