wēiyuē: 违约 - to Default, to Breach a Contract

• Keywords: 违约, weiyue, Chinese for default, breach of contract in Chinese, Chinese legal terms, default on a loan, break an agreement, 违约金, HSK 6, business Chinese, contract law China.
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese term 违约 (wéiyuē), which means “to breach a contract” or “to default” on an agreement. This page breaks down its meaning, cultural significance in Chinese business, and practical usage. With 10+ example sentences and comparisons to similar words, you'll understand how to use this critical HSK 6 vocabulary for legal, financial, and formal situations in China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): wéiyuē
• Part of Speech: Verb, Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: To fail to do something that you are legally or formally required to do by an agreement; to breach a contract.
• In a Nutshell: 违约 (wéiyuē) is the serious, formal term for breaking a binding agreement. Think of it not as simply breaking a casual promise to a friend, but as failing to fulfill your obligations in a contract, a lease, or a loan. It carries legal and financial consequences and is a core concept in business, law, and finance in China.

• 违 (wéi): This character means “to go against,” “to violate,” or “to disobey.” It's composed of the radical 辶 (chuò), which means “to walk,” and a phonetic component 韦 (wéi). You can picture it as “walking in the opposite direction” of what is required or expected.
• 约 (yuē): This character means “agreement,” “contract,” or “appointment.” It contains the silk radical 纟(sī), which relates to tying or binding things together. An agreement (约) is like a binding thread between two parties.
• The two characters combine literally to mean “to go against a binding agreement,” which perfectly captures the modern meaning of breaching a contract or defaulting.

In modern China, especially in its fast-paced market economy, the concept of 违约 (wéiyuē) is critically important. While traditional Chinese culture sometimes prioritized personal relationships (关系, guānxi) and mutual trust over rigid written documents, the legal framework for contracts is now central to all business dealings. A key difference from Western culture lies in the deep connection between 违约 (wéiyuē) and personal/corporate 信用 (xìnyòng), which translates to “credit” or “trustworthiness.” To breach a contract isn't just a legal issue; it's a significant blow to one's reputation and social standing. In the age of China's Social Credit System, a formal record of 违约 can have far-reaching consequences, affecting one's ability to get loans, travel, or even secure certain jobs. Therefore, while a Westerner might see breaching a contract primarily as a business or legal problem to be solved with financial penalties, in a Chinese context, it is also a serious moral and reputational failing. The act implies a lack of integrity, which can be much harder to repair than simply paying a fine.

违约 (wéiyuē) is a formal term used primarily in legal, financial, and business contexts. You will encounter it frequently in contracts, news reports about business disputes, and banking documents.

• As a Verb: “to breach/default”
  • E.g., 他违约了 (tā wéiyuē le) - He defaulted.
• As a Noun: “a breach of contract / a default”
  • E.g., 这是一种违约行为 (zhè shì yī zhǒng wéiyuē xíngwéi) - This is an act of contract breach.
• In Set Phrases: The most common is 违约金 (wéiyuē jīn), which means “penalty for breach of contract” or “liquidated damages.” This is a standard clause in almost any Chinese contract.

It is generally not used for informal situations. If you are late for a coffee date with a friend, you would use 失约 (shīyuē), not 违约.

• Example 1:
  • 如果你不能按时付款，你就会违约。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ bùnéng ànshí fùkuǎn, nǐ jiù huì wéiyuē.
  • English: If you can't pay on time, you will be in default.
  • Analysis: A clear and direct use of 违约 as a verb in a conditional sentence, common in financial or contractual warnings.
• Example 2:
  • 这家公司因违约被客户起诉了。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī yīn wéiyuē bèi kèhù qǐsù le.
  • English: This company was sued by its client for breach of contract.
  • Analysis: Here, 违约 is used as the noun reason for a legal action. The structure 因 (yīn)…被 (bèi)… is common for explaining causes in passive sentences.
• Example 3:
  • 合同里明确规定了违约的后果。
  • Pinyin: Hétong lǐ míngquè guīdìng le wéiyuē de hòuguǒ.
  • English: The consequences of a breach of contract are clearly stipulated in the contract.
  • Analysis: 违约 functions as a noun, “a breach of contract.” This sentence is typical of legal and business discussions.
• Example 4:
  • 提前终止租赁合同是一种违约行为。
  • Pinyin: Tíqián zhōngzhǐ zūlìn hétong shì yī zhǒng wéiyuē xíngwéi.
  • English: Terminating a lease agreement early is an act of default.
  • Analysis: The phrase 违约行为 (wéiyuē xíngwéi), “act of default,” is a formal way to classify an action.
• Example 5:
  • 任何一方违约，都必须支付十万元的违约金。
  • Pinyin: Rènhé yīfāng wéiyuē, dōu bìxū zhīfù shí wàn yuán de wéiyuē jīn.
  • English: If either party breaches the contract, they must pay a penalty of 100,000 yuan.
  • Analysis: This example perfectly illustrates the relationship between the action (违约) and its direct financial consequence, the 违约金 (wéiyuē jīn).
• Example 6:
  • 由于供应链问题，他们被迫违约了。
  • Pinyin: Yóuyú gōngyìng liàn wèntí, tāmen bèi pò wéiyuē le.
  • English: Due to supply chain issues, they were forced to default on their contract.
  • Analysis: Shows that 违约 can sometimes be involuntary, caused by external factors.
• Example 7:
  • 他的违约记录使他很难再申请到贷款。
  • Pinyin: Tā de wéiyuē jìlù shǐ tā hěn nán zài shēnqǐng dào dàikuǎn.
  • English: His record of default makes it very difficult for him to apply for another loan.
  • Analysis: 违约记录 (wéiyuē jìlù), “default record,” highlights the long-term impact on one's credit (信用).
• Example 8:
  • 我们需要一个律师来处理这个复杂的违约案件。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen xūyào yī ge lǜshī lái chǔlǐ zhè ge fùzá de wéiyuē ànjiàn.
  • English: We need a lawyer to handle this complex breach of contract case.
  • Analysis: 违约 is used here as an adjective to describe “案件 (ànjiàn) - a (legal) case.”
• Example 9:
  • 发展商未能如期完工，构成了严重违约。
  • Pinyin: Fāzhǎn shāng wèi néng rúqī wángōng, gòuchéng le yánzhòng wéiyuē.
  • English: The developer's failure to complete the work on schedule constituted a serious breach of contract.
  • Analysis: The verb 构成 (gòuchéng), “to constitute,” is formal language often paired with 违约 in legal contexts.
• Example 10:
  • 在签署任何文件之前，请仔细阅读关于违约的条款。
  • Pinyin: Zài qiānshǔ rènhé wénjiàn zhīqián, qǐng zǐxì yuèdú guānyú wéiyuē de tiáokuǎn.
  • English: Before signing any documents, please carefully read the clauses regarding breach of contract.
  • Analysis: Shows 违约 used as the subject of a clause (条款, tiáokuǎn), a very practical and common usage.

The most common mistake for English speakers is confusing 违约 (wéiyuē) with 失约 (shīyuē).

• 违约 (wéiyuē): To breach a CONTRACT.
  • Context: Formal, legal, financial, written agreements.
  • Consequence: Legal action, financial penalties (违约金), damage to one's credit (信用).
  • Correct: 他没有偿还银行贷款，所以他违约了。 (He didn't repay the bank loan, so he defaulted.)
  • Incorrect: 我忘了跟朋友的约会，我违约了。 (I forgot my appointment with a friend, I breached the contract.) → This is wrong because a casual meeting is not a contract.
• 失约 (shīyuē): To break an APPOINTMENT.
  • Context: Informal, social, personal promises. “To stand someone up.”
  • Consequence: An apology is needed, may upset a friend.
  • Correct: 对不起，我昨晚失约了，因为我突然要加班。 (Sorry, I broke our date last night because I suddenly had to work overtime.)
  • Incorrect: 租客不交房租，他对房东失约了。 (The tenant didn't pay rent, he broke his appointment with the landlord.) → This is wrong because a lease is a formal contract, requiring 违约.

In short: Use 违约 (wéiyuē) for contracts and law; use 失约 (shīyuē) for coffee and friends.

• 合同 (hétong) - Contract. The formal, binding document that one might 违约.
• 失约 (shīyuē) - To miss an appointment. The informal, social counterpart to 违约.
• 违约金 (wéiyuē jīn) - Penalty for breach of contract; liquidated damages. The financial penalty often specified in a contract for 违约.
• 信用 (xìnyòng) - Credit, trustworthiness, reputation. This is severely damaged by an act of 违约.
• 违反 (wéifǎn) - To violate. A broader term used for violating rules, laws, or principles (e.g., 违反规定 - violate regulations). 违约 is a specific type of 违反.
• 毁约 (huǐyuē) - To go back on one's word; to break a contract. Similar to 违约, but often carries a stronger connotation of deliberate and malicious annulment of an agreement.
• 协议 (xiéyì) - Agreement. A slightly broader and sometimes less formal term than 合同, but breaching a 协议 would also be considered 违约.
• 承诺 (chéngnuò) - A promise (noun); to promise (verb). Breaking a 承诺 is a moral failing, while 违约 is a legal or formal one.