Navigating Chinese legal documents requires mastering its unique vocabulary. Here’s the complete glossary of key terms with explanations:
1. Core Legal Entities
- 原告 (yuángào) – Plaintiff
- 被告人 (bèigào rén) – Defendant
- 犯罪嫌疑人 (fànzuì xiányírén) – Suspect (criminal cases)
- 法人 (fǎrén) – Legal entity/Corporation
- 法定代表人 (fǎdìng dàibiǎo rén) – Legal representative
2. Court Procedures
- 起诉 (qǐsù) – To file a lawsuit
- 上诉 (shàngsù) – Appeal
- 申诉 (shēnsù) – Petition for retrial
- 一审 (yīshěn) – First-instance trial
- 终审 (zhōngshěn) – Final judgment
3. Legal Actions
- 仲裁 (zhòngcái) – Arbitration
- 调解 (tiáojiě) – Mediation
- 和解 (héjiě) – Settlement
- 强制执行 (qiángzhì zhíxíng) – Enforcement
- 查封 (cháfēng) – Seizure of assets
4. Contract Terms
- 违约 (wéiyuē) – Breach of contract
- 违约金 (wéiyuējīn) – Liquidated damages
- 不可抗力 (bùkě kànglì) – Force majeure
- 甲方/乙方 (jiǎfāng/yǐfāng) – Party A/Party B
- 条款 (tiáokuǎn) – Clause
5. Property & IP
- 不动产 (bùdòngchǎn) – Real estate
- 知识产权 (zhīshì chǎnquán) – Intellectual property
- 著作权 (zhùzuòquán) – Copyright
- 专利 (zhuānlì) – Patent
- 商标 (shāngbiāo) – Trademark
6. Criminal Law
- 犯罪构成 (fànzuì gòuchéng) – Elements of crime
- 量刑 (liàngxíng) – Sentencing
- 拘留 (jūliú) – Detention
- 逮捕 (dàibǔ) – Arrest
- 取保候审 (qǔbǎo hòushěn) – Bail
7. Evidence & Proof
- 证据 (zhèngjù) – Evidence
- 举证责任 (jǔzhèng zérèn) – Burden of proof
- 证人 (zhèngrén) – Witness
- 鉴定 (jiàndìng) – Appraisal
- 笔录 (bǐlù) – Written record
8. Financial Terms
- 债务 (zhàiwù) – Debt
- 债权 (zhàiquán) – Creditor’s rights
- 抵押 (dǐyā) – Mortgage
- 担保 (dānbǎo) – Guarantee
- 破产 (pòchǎn) – Bankruptcy
9. Administrative Law
- 行政处罚 (xíngzhèng chǔfá) – Administrative penalty
- 行政复议 (xíngzhèng fùyì) – Administrative reconsideration
- 行政诉讼 (xíngzhèng sùsòng) – Administrative litigation
- 行政许可 (xíngzhèng xǔkě) – Administrative license
- 政府信息公开 (zhèngfǔ xìnxī gōngkāi) – Government information disclosure
10. International Law
- 涉外案件 (shèwài ànjiàn) – Foreign-related case
- 司法协助 (sīfǎ xiézhù) – Judicial assistance
- 引渡 (yǐndù) – Extradition
- 国际仲裁 (guójì zhòngcái) – International arbitration
- 条约 (tiáoyuē) – Treaty
Master Legal Chinese with Expert Guidance!
Struggling with contracts or court documents? Our 1-on-1 Legal Chinese Course gives you:
✓ Personalized coaching on tricky terms
✓ Real document breakdowns
✓ Industry-specific vocabulary
Book your free trial lesson today!
Quiz: What does 不可抗力 (bùkě kànglì) refer to?
A. Breach of contract
B. Force majeure
C. Intellectual property
