Definition

1. Noun:
   • Contract: A formal, legally binding agreement between two or more parties, typically outlining rights and obligations. This is the primary and most common meaning.
   • Covenant: A formal and solemn promise or agreement, often carrying a sense of moral or binding force beyond the purely legal.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Hai bên đã ký một bản khế ước. (The two parties signed a contract.)
  • Khế ước lao động quy định rõ quyền lợi của người lao động. (The labor contract clearly stipulates the rights of the worker.)
  • Khế ước giữa họ dựa trên sự tin tưởng lẫn nhau. (The covenant between them was based on mutual trust.)

Advanced Usage

• "Khế ước xã hội": Social contract.
  • Theo lý thuyết khế ước xã hội, chính quyền tồn tại là do sự đồng ý của người dân. (According to social contract theory, the government exists by the consent of the governed.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hợp đồng (n): Contract. This is the more common, modern synonym for in most legal and business contexts.
• Giao kèo (n): Agreement, pact. Often used in a slightly less formal or older context.
• Thỏa thuận (n): Agreement, arrangement. A broader term that may not always imply a formal written document.

Synonyms

• Hợp đồng: Contract.
• Giao kèo: Pact, agreement.
• Thỏa thuận: Agreement.

Related Phrases

• Ký khế ước: To sign a contract.
  • Sau nhiều ngày đàm phán, họ cuối cùng đã ký khế ước. (After many days of negotiation, they finally signed the contract.)
• Vi phạm khế ước: To breach/violate a contract.
  • Bên nào vi phạm khế ước sẽ phải bồi thường. (The party that breaches the contract must pay compensation.)
• Điều khoản khế ước: Contract clause/term.
  • Anh cần đọc kỹ các điều khoản khế ước trước khi ký. (You need to read the contract terms carefully before signing.)

Notes on Usage

• Formality and Context: is a formal, literary, and somewhat classical term. In contemporary everyday Vietnamese, hợp đồng is the standard and more frequently used word for "contract" in legal, business, and commercial settings. might be found in legal texts, philosophical discussions (e.g., ), historical contexts, or formal writing to convey a sense of solemnity or tradition.
• Scope: While often interchangeable with , can sometimes imply a broader, more foundational, or principled agreement, as seen in "social contract."

1. Contract
   • Ký bản khế ước
     To sign a contract