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March 24, 2026
合同hétóng(he2tong2)
A '合同' (hé tóng) refers to a legally binding agreement or contract between parties, typically used in business contexts. It outlines the terms and conditions of a deal, ensuring that all parties understand their responsibilities and rights. '合同' is commonly used in legal, commercial, and financial discussions.
Frequency#2352DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
'合同' is integral to Chinese business culture, reflecting the importance of written agreements in building trust and accountability. In many cases, contracts are seen as essential for ensuring clarity in transactions, especially in a rapidly developing economy.
Memory Tip
Imagine two people shaking hands (合) over a written document (同) that signifies their agreement. The handshake represents the idea of coming together (合), while the document symbolizes the contract (同). Together, they create '合同'—a binding agreement.
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AI Study Notes for 合同
Quick Contrast
协议 (xiéyì) vs 合同 (hétóng): Use '合同' for legally binding agreements, while '协议' refers to agreements that may not have legal enforceability.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine two people shaking hands (合) over a written document (同) that signifies their agreement. The handshake represents the idea of coming together (合), while the document symbolizes the contract (同). Together, they create '合同'—a binding agreement.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing '合同'; both characters are pronounced with a second and second tone respectively. It's commonly found in formal contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversations. Also, remember the measure word '个' (gè) when referring to contracts.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, '合同' relates to business and legal vocabulary. Students should focus on its usage in formal contexts and learn related terms such as '签合同' (qiān hé tóng - to sign a contract) and '合同法' (hétóng fǎ - contract law).
Cultural Note
'合同' is integral to Chinese business culture, reflecting the importance of written agreements in building trust and accountability. In many cases, contracts are seen as essential for ensuring clarity in transactions, especially in a rapidly developing economy.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse '合同' with '协议' (xiéyì), which means 'agreement' but is less formal. Remember, '合同' is specifically a binding contract, while '协议' can refer to a broader range of agreements. An incorrect example is saying '我有一个协议' when meaning to say '我有一个合同'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 合同
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Grammar Patterns of 合同
合同 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Enclosed is our contract No. 345 in duplicate, of which please return us one copy, duly countersign.
Cultural Notes for 合同
🏮Cultural insight
'合同' is integral to Chinese business culture, reflecting the importance of written agreements in building trust and accountability. In many cases, contracts are seen as essential for ensuring clarity in transactions, especially in a rapidly developing economy.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, contracts are also crucial, but there may be more emphasis on verbal agreements and trust-based relationships than in Chinese culture, where written contracts are often regarded as essential.
Frequently Asked Questions about 合同
'合同' means 'contract' and refers to a legally binding agreement between parties.
You can say, '我们需要签一个合同' (Wǒmen xūyào qiān yīgè hétóng) which means 'We need to sign a contract.'
The measure word for '合同' is '个' (gè). You would say '一个合同' (yīgè hétóng) for 'a contract'.
