Chinese word

违约

Pronunciation

Pinyinwéi yuē

Meaning

  • verbbreak a contract

Example

如果你违约，公司会追究责任。rú guǒ nǐ wéi yuē gōng sī huì zhuī jiū zé rèn

If you break the contract, the company will hold you responsible.

Illustration for 违约 (break a contract)

More examples

法院判定该公司违约，需赔偿损失。fǎ yuàn pàn dìng gāi gōng sī wéi yuē xū péi cháng sǔn shī

The court found that the company had breached the contract and must pay compensation for the loss.

Core concept

An agreed commitment is left unfulfilled instead of being carried out as promised.

Common phrases

  • 涉嫌违约shè xián wéi yuē

    suspected of breaking a contract

  • 因违约yīn wéi yuē

    because of breaking a contract

  • 构成违约gòu chéng wéi yuē

    constitute a breach of contract

Similar words

违反wéi fǎn: Break or go against a law, rule, contract, or regulation.
违背wéi bèi: Go against a promise, decision, agreement, or guiding principle.
失约shī yuē: Not keep a promise or fail to meet an arranged time or appointment.

Definition in Chinese

违反合同或双方约定，未按约定履行应尽义务。wéi fǎn hé tóng huò shuāng fāng yuē dìng wèi àn yuē dìng lǚ xíng yīng jìn yì wù

Word origin

违约 (wéiyuē, "to violate an agreement") combines 违 (wéi, "to violate") with 约 (yuē, "agreement"), so its meaning is transparent from its parts.

Usage tips

  • The word describes a failure to perform an existing commitment, not a simple change of mind before any agreement is made.

Other meanings

  • defaultnoun
  • break a promiseverb

Opposites

  • 履约lǚ yuēperform a contractverb
  • 守约shǒu yuēhonor a contractverb

Related words

  • 违约金wéi yuē jīnpenalty for breach of contractnoun
  • 违约责任wéi yuē zé rènbreach of contract liabilitynoun
  • 违约方wéi yuē fāngparty in breachnoun

Word lists with this word