条款
tiáokuǎn
In Chinese, the word for a legal clause is 条款 (tiáokuǎn).
条款 is a noun used specifically in legal, formal or contractual contexts to refer to individual provisions or articles within a document.
Meaning: legal: separate part of a contract (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of 条 (tiáo), a classifier often used for long, thin objects or items in a list and 款 (kuǎn), meaning item or term.
Which one should you use?
While 条款 refers to a specific provision or clause, the word 条 alone acts as a classifier for clauses and 规定 refers to a general regulation or rule.
How do you pronounce it?
tiáokuǎn
Did you know?
- When a contract is described as having 'unfair clauses', Chinese speakers often use the term 霸王条款 (bàwáng tiáokuǎn), which literally means 'Overlord clauses'.
- The character 条 in 条款 was originally a pictograph of a bamboo slip, which were the primary writing surfaces for ancient Chinese legal codes.
- While 条款 is the standard term for a clause, the phrase 条条框框 (tiáo tiáo kuàng kuàng) uses the same character to describe suffocating rules or bureaucratic red tape.
Examples in context
- 他来的时候，下雨了。When he arrived, it started raining.
- 合同里有一项新条款。Hétóng lǐ yǒu yī xiàng xīn tiáokuǎn.There is a new clause in the contract.
- 请仔细阅读这些条款。Qǐng zǐxì yuèdú zhèxiē tiáokuǎn.Please read these clauses carefully.
- 这个条款非常重要。Zhège tiáokuǎn fēicháng zhòngyào.This clause is very important.
Example conversation
Wei and Yuting are discussing a business agreement.
- 伟 Wei你看到那个条款了吗？Nǐ kàndào nàge tiáokuǎn le ma?Did you see that clause?
- 雨婷 Yuting看到了，我觉得有点问题。Kàndào le, wǒ juéde yǒudiǎn wèntí.I saw it, but I think there is an issue.
- 伟 Wei我们需要修改它吗？Wǒmen xūyào xiūgǎi tā ma?Do we need to modify it?
- 雨婷 Yuting是的，伟，我们需要重新谈谈。Shì de, Wěi, wǒmen xūyào chóngxīn tán tán.Yes, Wei, we need to talk again.
