For the uninitiated, navigating the bureaucratic systems in China carries a certain degree of challenge. Differences in language and legal system alone will make contracts unfamiliar and intimidating for most foreign residents, increasing the risk that the average expat will sign without a full understanding of the terms of the agreement, or is left without much recourse should terms be violated. To avoid the headache of common contract problems, here’s a basic primer.
对于外行来说，驾驭中国的官僚制度带来了一定程度的挑战。仅语言和法律制度的差异就会使大多数外国居民对合同感到陌生和恐惧，增加了普通外籍人士在不完全理解协议条款的情况下签署合同的风险，或者在违反协议条款时没有太多追索权的风险。为了避免常见的合同问题，这里有一个基本的入门知识。
The Basics
基础知识
Language: Contract language can be chosen by both parties, meaning that you have the option of Mandarin or English. If the contract has an English and Chinese version, only the Chinese version is legally binding. This feature can leave foreigners who do not speak Chinese in a vulnerable position, as terms may differ in the Chinese language version, so if possible, ask to have the contract written in English only.语言：合同语言可由双方选择，也就是说您可以选择普通话或英语。如果合同有中英文版本，则只有中文版本具有法律约束力。这一功能可能会让不会说中文的外国人处于弱势，因为中文版本的条款可能不同，所以如果可能的话，请要求合同只用英文书写。Structure: Chinese contracts tend to use simple language and are generally shorter than in most Western legal systems.结构：中国的合同往往使用简单的语言，而且通常比大多数西方法律体系中的合同更短。Key provisions: When crafting a business contract with a Chinese counterpart, make sure to include an amendment for damages with the correct business name. Preventing any confusion and clearly establishing legal penalties will save time in the event of a conflict.关键条款：在与中国同行起草商业合同时，确保包括具有正确商业名称的损害赔偿修正案。在发生冲突时，防止任何混乱并明确规定法律处罚将节省时间。Rental Agreements
租赁协议
Contract length: Rental agreements are quite variable in length and highly subject to a case-by-case negotiation. While you might pay month to month, paying in installments of three to six months is more common.合同期限：租赁协议的期限是可变的，并高度取决于具体情况的谈判。虽然你可能会按月付款，但三到六个月的分期付款更为常见。Deposit: Landlords may mandate two months’ rent in an upfront deposit. When paying your deposit, avoid paying in cash when possible. Creating a paper trail will help protect you in the event of a dispute.押金：房东可以要求预付两个月的租金。在支付押金时，尽可能避免用现金支付。创建书面记录将有助于在发生纠纷时保护您。Disputes: Renters, whether foreign nationals or PRC citizens, have limited recourse in the event of a rental dispute. In recognition of the challenges faced by renters, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development rolled nationwide laws to clarify the obligations of landlords and protect the rights of tenants in spring 2017. These stipulations prohibited landlords from arbitrarily evicting their tenants, and instituted fines for raising rents prior to the end of lease agreements. Should you need to dispute your rental contract with your landlord, you can take the case to Chinese court. However, expect the process to be lengthy and unlikely to gain a favorable resolution. To save yourself the headache later on, ask for feedback from previous tenants when possible.争议：租房者，无论是外国公民还是中国公民，在发生租房争议时都有有限的追索权。为了认识到租房者面临的挑战，住房和城乡建设部于2017年春季在全国范围内推出了法律，以明确房东的义务并保护租户的权利。这些规定禁止房东任意驱逐房客，并对在租赁协议终止前提高租金的行为处以罚款。如果你需要与房东就租赁合同提出争议，你可以向中国法院提起诉讼。然而，预计这一过程将是漫长的，不太可能获得有利的解决方案。为了避免以后头痛，尽可能向以前的租户征求反馈。Work Contracts
工作合同
Length: Most contracts for foreigners in China are for one year only and are designed to align with yearly work visa renewal requirements.期限：大多数外国人在中国的合同仅为一年，旨在符合每年的工作签证续签要求。Probation and termination: Inclusion of a probationary period is common, within this timeframe either you or your employer are able to terminate the contract without penalty. When negotiating your contract, pay attention to termination terms. When possible, make sure your employer is mandated to give you at least 30 days’ notice.试用期和终止：加入试用期是很常见的，在这个时间段内，你或你的雇主都可以终止合同而不受处罚。在谈判合同时，要注意终止条款。在可能的情况下，确保你的雇主至少提前30天通知你。Annual leave: Under Chinese law, workers are guaranteed mandatory annual leave. For more than one year and less than 10 years of work experience in China, you are guaranteed five days of vacation in addition to national holidays. If you have worked for less than a year in China, you are not legally guaranteed any additional leave.年假：根据中国法律，工人享有强制性年假。在中国工作一年以上不满十年的，除国家法定节假日外，还保证有五天假期。如果你在中国工作不到一年，你就没有任何额外假期的法律保障。Phone Contracts
电话合同
Key players: the largest mobile companies in China are China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom. While you will receive a similar service with all providers, there are a few differences worthy of note. China Mobile has the largest market share of the three, so will provide the most options for service no matter where you travel domestically. China Unicom is the only provider that offers 3G services for phones purchased outside of China. China Telecom, in contrast, will not work with any phones bought internationally.主要参与者：中国最大的移动公司是中国移动、中国电信和中国联通。虽然所有供应商都会为您提供类似的服务，但有一些差异值得注意。中国移动在这三家公司中占有最大的市场份额，因此无论您在国内旅行，都将提供最多的服务选择。中国联通是唯一一家为在中国境外购买的手机提供3G服务的提供商。相比之下，中国电信将不会使用任何在国际上购买的手机。Getting service: The most common option for foreigners purchasing phones in China is to buy a pre-paid SIM card with a set amount of data and minutes and then top up as needed. If you will be in China for a longer period, monthly service contracts (referred to as “set meals,” or 包月套餐 bāoyuè tàocān in Mandarin) will automatically deduct funds for a set number of minutes and data per month.获得服务：对于在中国购买手机的外国人来说，最常见的选择是购买一张预付费的SIM卡，其中包含一定数量的数据和分钟数，然后根据需要充值。如果您将在中国停留更长的时间，每月的服务合同（称为“套餐”，或包月套餐bāoyuètàocān）将自动扣除每月固定分钟数和数据的资金。Location: Whenever you purchase your SIM card determines your location restrictions. Although your phone will work in other parts of China, you may need to purchase additional data when traveling domestically.位置：无论何时购买SIM卡，都会决定您的位置限制。尽管您的手机在中国其他地区也可以使用，但在国内旅行时可能需要购买额外的数据。