中华人民共和国民法通则

GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF THE CIVIL LAW OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

《中华人民共和国民法通则》已由中华人民共和国第六届全国人民代表大会第四次会议于一九八六年四月十二日通过，现予公布，自一九八七年一月一日起施行。

(Adopted at the Fourth Session of the Sixth National People's Congress, promulgated by  on April 12, 1986, and effective as of January 1, 1987)

目 录

Contents

第一章 基本原则

Chapter I Basic Principles

第二章 公民（自然人）

Chapter II Citizen (Natural Person)

第一节 民事权利能力和民事行为能力

Section 1 Capacity for Civil Rights and Capacity for Civil Conduct

第二节 监护

Section 2 Guardianship

第三节 宣告失踪和宣告死亡

Section 3 Declarations of Missing Persons and Death

第四节 个体工商户、农村承包经营户

Section 4 Individual Businesses and Leaseholding Farm Households

第五节 个人合伙

Section 5 Individual Partnership

第三章 法人

Chapter III Legal Persons

第一节 一般规定

Section 1 General Stipulations

第二节 企业法人

Section 2 Enterprise as Legal Person

第三节 机关、事业单位和社会团体法人

Section 3 Official Organ, Institution and Social Organization as Legal Persons

第四节 联营

Section 4 Economic Association

第四章 民事法律行为和代理

Chapter IV Civil Juristic Acts and Agency

第一节 民事法律行为

Section 1 Civil Juristic Acts

第二节 代理

Section 2 Agency

第五章 民事权利

Chapter V Civil Rights

第一节 财产所有权和与财产所有权有关的财产权

Section 1 Property Ownership and Related Property Rights

第二节 债权

Section 2 Creditors' Rights

第三节 知识产权

Section 3 Intellectual Property Rights

第四节 人身权

Section 4 Personal Rights

第六章 民事责任

Chapter VI Civil Liability

第一节 一般规定

Section 1 General Stipulations

第二节 违反合同的民事责任

Section 2 Civil Liability for Breach of Contract

第三节 侵权的民事责任

Section 3 Civil Liability for Infringement of Rights

第四节 承担民事责任的方式

Section 4 Methods of Bearing Civil Liability

第七章 诉讼时效

Chapter VII Limitation of Action

第八章 涉外民事关系的法律适用

Chapter VIII Application of Law in Civil Relations with Foreigners

第九章 附则

Chapter IX Supplementary Provisions

第一章 基本原则

Chapter I Basic Principles

第一条 为了保障公民、法人的合法的民事权益，正确调整民事关系，适应社会主义现代化建设事业发展的需要，根据宪法和我国实际情况，总结民事活动的实践经验，制定本法。

Article 1 This Law is formulated in accordance with the Constitution and the actual situation in our country, drawing upon our practical experience in civil activities, for the purpose of protecting the lawful civil rights and interests of citizens and legal persons and correctly adjusting civil relations, so as to meet the needs of the developing socialist modernization.

第二条 中华人民共和国民法调整平等主体的公民之间、法人之间、公民和法人之间的财产关系和人身关系。

Article 2 The Civil Law of the People's Republic of China shall adjust property relationships and personal relationships between civil subjects with equal status, that is, between citizens, between legal persons and between citizens and legal persons.

第三条 当事人在民事活动中的地位平等。

Article 3 Parties to a civil activity shall have equal status.

第四条 民事活动应当遵循自愿、公平、等价有偿、诚实信用的原则。

Article 4 In civil activities, the principles of voluntariness, fairness, making compensation for equal value, honesty and credibility shall be observed.

第五条 公民、法人的合法的民事权益受法律保护，任何组织和个人不得侵犯。

Article 5 The lawful civil rights and interests of citizens and legal persons shall be protected by law; no organization or individual may infringe upon them.

第六条 民事活动必须遵守法律，法律没有规定的，应当遵守国家政策。

Article 6 Civil activities must be in compliance with the law; where there are no relevant provisions in the law, they shall be in compliance with state policies.

第七条 民事活动应当尊重社会公德，不得损害社会公共利益，破坏国家经济计划，扰乱社会经济秩序。

Article 7 Civil activities shall have respect for social ethics and shall not harm the public interest, undermine state economic plans or disrupt social economic order.

第八条 在中华人民共和国领域内的民事活动，适用中华人民共和国法律，法律另有规定的除外。

Article 8 The law of the People's Republic of China shall apply to civil activities within the People's Republic of China, except as otherwise stipulated by law.

本法关于公民的规定，适用于在中华人民共和国领域内的外国人、无国籍人，法律另有规定的除外。

The stipulations of this Law as regards citizens shall apply to foreigners and stateless persons within the People's Republic of China, except as otherwise stipulated by law.

第二章 公民（自然人） 

Chapter II Citizen (Natural Person)

第一节 民事权利能力和民事行为能力

Section 1 Capacity for Civil Rights and Capacity for Civil Conduct.

第九条 公民从出生时起到死亡时止，具有民事权利能力，依法享有民事权利，承担民事义务。

Article 9 A citizen shall have the capacity for civil rights from birth to death and shall enjoy civil rights and assume civil obligations in accordance with the law.

第十条 公民的民事权利能力一律平等。

Article 10 All citizens are equal as regards their capacity for civil rights.

第十一条 十八周岁以上的公民是成年人，具有完全民事行为能力，可以独立进行民事活动，是完全民事行为能力人。

Article 11 A citizen aged 18 or over shall be an adult. He shall have full capacity for civil conduct, may independently engage in civil activities and shall be called a person with full capacity for civil conduct.

十六周岁以上不满十八周岁的公民，以自己的劳动收入为主要生活来源的，视为完全民事行为能力人。

A citizen who has reached the age of 16 but not the age of 18 and whose main source of income is his own labour shall be regarded as a person with full capacity for civil conduct.

第十二条 十周岁以上的未成年人是限制民事行为能力人，可以进行与他的年龄、智力相适应的民事活动；其他民事活动由他的法定代理人代理，或者征得他的法定代理人的同意。

Article 12 A minor aged 10 or over shall be a person with limited capacity for civil conduct and may engage in civil activities appropriate to his age and intellect; in other civil activities, he shall be represented by his agent ad litem or participate with the consent of his agent ad litem.

不满十周岁的未成年人是无民事行为能力人，由他的法定代理人代理民事活动。

A minor under the age of 10 shall be a person having no capacity for civil conduct and shall be represented in civil activities by his agent ad litem.

第十三条 不能辨认自己行为的精神病人是无民事行为能力人，由他的法定代理人代理民事活动。

Article 13 A mentally ill person who is unable to account for his own conduct shall be a person having no capacity for civil conduct and shall be represented in civil activities by his agent ad litem.

不能完全辨认自己行为的精神病人是限制民事行为能力人，可以进行与他的精神健康状况相适应的民事活动；

A mentally ill person who is unable to fully account for his own conduct shall be a person with limited capacity for civil conduct and may engage in civil activities appropriate to his mental health; 

其他民事活动由他的法定代理人代理，或者征得他的法定代理人的同意。

in other civil activities, he shall be represented by his agent ad litem or participate with the consent of his agent ad litem.

第十四条 无民事行为能力人、限制民事行为能力人的监护人是他的法定代理人。

Article 14 The guardian of a person without or with limited capacity for civil conduct shall be his agent ad litem.

第十五条 公民以他的户籍所在地的居住地为住所，经常居住地与住所不一致的，经常居住地视为住所。

Article 15 The domicile of a citizen shall be the place where his residence is registered; if his habitual residence is not the same as his domicile, his habitual residence shall be regarded as his domicile.

第二章 公民（自然人） 第二节 监 护

Section 2 Guardianship

第十六条 未成年人的父母是未成年人的监护人。

Article 16 The parents of a minor shall be his guardians.

未成年人的父母已经死亡或者没有监护能力的，由下列人员中有监护能力的人担任监护人：

If the parents of a minor are dead or lack the competence to be his guardian, a person from the following categories who has the competence to be a guardian shall act as his guardian:

（一）祖父母、外祖父母；

(1) paternal or maternal grandparent;

（二）兄、姐；

(2) elder brother or sister; or

（三）关系密切的其他亲属、朋友愿意承担监护责任，经未成年人的父、母的所在单位或者未成年人住所地的居民委员会、村民委员会同意的。

(3) any other closely connected relative or friend willing to bear the responsibility of guardianship and having approval from the units of the minor's parents or from the neighbourhood or village committee in the place of the minor's residence. 

对担任监护人有争议的，由未成年人的父、母的所在单位或者未成年人住所地的居民委员会、村民委员会在近亲属中指定。对指定不服提起诉讼的，由人民法院裁决。

In case of a dispute over guardianship, the units of the minor's parents or the neighbourhood or village committee in the place of his residence shall appoint a guardian from among the minor's near relatives. If disagreement over the appointment leads to a lawsuit, the people's court shall make a ruling.

没有第一款、第二款规定的监护人的，由未成年人的父、母的所在单位或者未成年人住所地的居民委员会、村民委员会或者民政部门担任监护人。

If none of the persons listed in the first two paragraphs of this article is available to be the guardian, the units of the minor's parents, the neighbourhood or village committee in the place of the minor's residence or the civil affairs department shall act as his guardian.

第十七条 无民事行为能力或者限制民事行为能力的精神病人，由下列人员担任监护人：

Article 17 A person from the following categories shall act as guardian for a mentally ill person without or with limited capacity for civil conduct:

（一）配偶；

(1) spouse;

（二）父母；

(2) parent;

（三）成年子女；

(3) adult child;

（四）其他近亲属；

(4) any other near relative;

（五）关系密切的其他亲属、朋友愿意承担监护责任，经精神病人的所在单位或者住所地的居民委员会、村民委员会同意的。

(5) any other closely connected relative or friend willing to bear the responsibility of guardianship and having approval from the unit to which the mentally ill person belongs or from the neighbourhood or village committee in the place of his residence.

对担任监护人有争议的，由精神病人的所在单位或者住所地的居民委员会、村民委员会在近亲属中指定。对指定不服提起诉讼的，由人民法院裁决。

 In case of a dispute over guardianship, the unit to which the mentally ill person belongs or the neighbourhood or village committee in the place of his residence shall appoint a guardian from among his near relatives. If disagreement over the appointment leads to a lawsuit, the people's court shall make a ruling.

没有第一款规定的监护人的，由精神病人的所在单位或者住所地的居民委员会、村民委员会或者民政部门担任监护人。

If none of the persons listed in the first paragraph of this article is available to be the guardian, the unit to which the mentally ill person belongs, the neighbourhood or village committee in the place of his residence or the civil affairs department shall act as his guardian.

第十八条 监护人应当履行监护职责，保护被监护人的人身、财产及其他合法权益，除为被监护人的利益外，不得处理被监护人的财产。

Article 18 A guardian shall fulfil his duty of guardianship and protect the person, property and other lawful rights and interests of his ward. A guardian shall not handle the property of his ward unless it is in the ward's interests.

监护人依法履行监护的权利，受法律保护。

A guardian's rights to fulfil his guardianship in accordance with the law shall be protected by law.

监护人不履行监护职责或者侵害被监护人的合法权益的，应当承担责任；给被监护人造成财产损失的，应当赔偿损失。

If a guardian does not fulfil his duties as guardian or infringes upon the lawful rights and interests of his ward, he shall be held responsible; if a guardian causes any property loss for his ward, he shall compensate for such loss. 

人民法院可以根据有关人员或者有关单位的申请，撤销监护人的资格。

The people's court may disqualify a guardian based on the application of a concerned party or unit.

第十九条 精神病人的利害关系人，可以向人民法院申请宣告精神病人为无民事行为能力人或者限制民事行为能力人。

Article 19 A person who shares interests with a mental patient may apply to a people's court for a declaration that the mental patient is a person without or with limited capacity for civil conduct.

被人民法院宣告为无民事行为能力人或者限制民事行为能力人的，根据他健康恢复的状况，经本人或者利害关系人申请，人民法院可以宣告他为限制民事行为能力人或者完全民事行为能力人。

With the recovery of the health of a person who has been declared by a people's court to be without or with limited capacity for civil conduct, and upon his own application or that of an interested person, the people's court may declare him to be a person with limited or full capacity for civil conduct.

第三节 宣告失踪和宣告死亡

Section 3 Declarations of Missing Persons and Death

第二十条 公民下落不明满二年的，利害关系人可以向人民法院申请宣告他为失踪人。

Article 20 If a citizen's whereabouts have been unknown for two years, an interested person may apply to a people's court for a declaration of the citizen as missing.

战争期间下落不明的，下落不明的时间从战争结束之日起计算。

If a person's whereabouts become unknown during a war, the calculation of the time period in which his whereabouts are unknown shall begin on the final day of the war.

第二十一条 失踪人的财产由他的配偶、父母、成年子女或者关系密切的其他亲属、朋友代管。

Article 21 A missing person's property shall be placed in the custody of his spouse, parents, adult children or other closely connected relatives or friends.

代管有争议的，没有以上规定的人或者以上规定的人无能力代管的，由人民法院指定的人代管。

In case of a dispute over custody, if the persons stipulated above are unavailable or are incapable of taking such custody, the property shall be placed in the custody of a person appointed by the people's court. 

失踪人所欠税款、债务和应付的其他费用，由代管人从失踪人的财产中支付。

Any taxes, debts and other unpaid expenses owed by a missing person shall defrayed by the custodian out of the missing person's property.

第二十二条 被宣告失踪的人重新出现或者确知他的下落，经本人或者利害关系人申请，人民法院应当撤销对他的失踪宣告。

Article 22 In the event that a person who has been declared missing reappears or his whereabouts are ascertained, the people's court shall, upon his own application or that of an interested person, revoke the declaration of his missing-person status.

第二十三条 公民有下列情形之一的，利害关系人可以向人民法院申请宣告他死亡：

Article 23 Under either of the following circumstances, an interested person may apply to the people's court for a declaration of a citizen's death:

（一）下落不明满四年的；

(1) if the citizen's whereabouts have been unknown for four years or 

（二）因意外事故下落不明，从事故发生之日起满二年的。

(2) if the citizen's whereabouts have been unknown for two years after the date of an accident in which he was involved.

战争期间下落不明的，下落不明的时间从战争结束之日起计算。

If a person's whereabouts become unknown during a war, the calculation of the time period in which his whereabouts are unknown shall begin on the final day of the war.

第二十四条 被宣告死亡的人重新出现或者确知他没有死亡，经本人或者利害关系人申请，人民法院应当撤销对他的死亡宣告。

Article 24 In the event that a person who has been declared dead reappears or it is ascertained that he is alive, the people's court shall, upon his own application or that of an interested person, revoke the declaration of his death.

有民事行为能力人在被宣告死亡期间实施的民事法律行为有效。

Any civil juristic acts performed by a person with capacity for civil conduct during the period in which he has been declared dead shall be valid.

第二十五条 被撤销死亡宣告的人有权请求返还财产。依照继承法取得他的财产的公民或者组织，应当返还原物；原物不存在的，给予适当补偿。

Article 25 A person shall have the right to request the return of his property, if the declaration of his death has been revoked. Any citizen or organization that has obtained such property in accordance with the Law of Succession shall return the original items or make appropriate compensation if the original items no longer exist.

第二章 公民（自然人） 第四节 个体工商户、农村承包经营户

Section 4 Individual Businesses and Leaseholding Farm Households

第二十六条 公民在法律允许的范围内，依法经核准登记，从事工商业经营的，为个体工商户。个体工商户可以起字号。

Article 26 "Individual businesses" refers to business run by individual citizens who have been lawfully registered and approved to engage in industrial or commercial operation within the sphere permitted by law. An individual business may adopt a shop name.

第二十七条 农村集体经济组织的成员，在法律允许的范围内，按照承包合同规定从事商品经营的，为农村承包经营户。

Article 27 "Leaseholding farm households" refers to members of a rural collective economic organization who engage in commodity production under a contract and within the spheres permitted by law.

第二十八条 个体工商户、农村承包经营户的合法权益，受法律保护。

Article 28 The legitimate rights and interests of individual businesses and leaseholding farm households shall be protected by law.

第二十九条 个体工商户、农村承包经营户的债务，个人经营的，以个人财产承担；家庭经营的，以家庭财产承担。

Article 29 The debts of an individual business or a leaseholding farm household shall be secured with the individual's property if the business is operated by an individual and with the family's property if the business is operated by a family.

第二章 公民（自然人） 第五节 个人合伙

Section 5 Individual Partnership

第三十条 个人合伙是指两个以上公民按照协议，各自提供资金、实物、技术等，合伙经营、共同劳动。

Article 30 "Individual partnership" refers to two or more citizens associated in a business and working together, with each providing funds, material objects, techniques and so on according to an agreement.

第三十一条 合伙人应当对出资数额、盈余分配、债务承担、入伙、退伙、合伙终止等事项，订立书面协议。

Article 31 Partners shall make a written agreement covering the funds each is to provide, the distribution of profits, the responsibility for debts, the entering into and withdrawal from partnership, the ending of partnership and other such matters.

第三十二条 合伙人投入的财产，由合伙人统一管理和使用。

Article 32 The property provided by the partners shall be under their unified management and use. 

合伙经营积累的财产，归合伙人共有。

The property accumulated in a partnership operation shall belong to all the partners.

第三十三条 个人合伙可以起字号，依法经核准登记，在核准登记的经营范围内从事经营。

Article 33 An individual partnership may adopt a shop name; it shall be approved and registered in accordance with the law and conduct business operations within the range as approved and registered.

第三十四条 个人合伙的经营活动，由合伙人共同决定，合伙人有执行和监督的权利。

Article 34 The operational activities of an individual partnership shall be decided jointly by the partners, who each shall have the right to carry out and supervise those activities. The partners may elect a responsible person.

合伙人可以推举负责人。合伙负责人和其他人员的经营活动，由全体合伙人承担民事责任。

All partners shall bear civil liability for the operational activities of the responsible person and other personnel.

第三十五条 合伙的债务，由合伙人按照出资比例或者协议的约定，以各自的财产承担清偿责任。

Article 35 A partnership's debts shall be secured with the partners' property in proportion to their respective contributions to the investment or according to the agreement made.

合伙人对合伙的债务承担连带责任，法律另有规定的除外。

 Partners shall undertake joint liability for their partnership's debts, except as otherwise stipulated by law. 

偿还合伙债务超过自己应当承担数额的合伙人，有权向其他合伙人追偿。

Any partner who overpays his share of the partnership's debts shall have the right to claim compensation from the other partners.

第三章 法 人 第一节 一般规定

 Chapter III Legal Persons Section 1 General Stipulations

第三十六条 法人是具有民事权利能力和民事行为能力，依法独立享有民事权利和承担民事义务的组织。

Article 36 A legal person shall be an organization that has capacity for civil rights and capacity for civil conduct and independently enjoys civil rights and assumes civil obligations in accordance with the law.

法人的民事权利能力和民事行为能力，从法人成立时产生，到法人终止时消灭。

A legal person's capacity for civil rights and capacity for civil conduct shall begin when the legal person is established and shall end when the legal person terminates.

第三十七条 法人应当具备下列条件：

Article 37 A legal person shall have the following qualifications:

（一）依法成立；

(1) establishment in accordance with the law;

（二）有必要的财产或者经费；

(2) possession of the necessary property or funds;

（三）有自己的名称、组织机构和场所；

(3) possession of its own name, organization and premises; 

（四）能够独立承担民事责任。

and (4) ability to independently bear civil liability.

第三十八条 依照法律或者法人组织章程规定，代表法人行使职权的负责人，是法人的法定代表人。

Article 38 In accordance with the law or the articles of association of the legal person, the responsible person who acts on behalf of the legal person in exercising its functions and powers shall be its legal representative.

第三十九条 法人以它的主要办事机构所在地为住所。

Article 39 A legal person's domicile shall be the place where its main administrative office is located.

第四十条 法人终止，应当依法进行清算，停止清算范围外的活动。

Article 40 When a legal person terminates, it shall go into liquidation in accordance with the law and discontinue all other activities.

第三章 法 人 第二节 企业法人

Section 2 Enterprise as Legal Person

第四十一条 全民所有制企业、集体所有制企业有符合国家规定的资金数额，有组织章程、组织机构和场所，能够独立承担民事责任，经主管机关核准登记，取得法人资格。

Article 41 An enterprise owned by the whole people or under collective ownership shall be qualified as a legal person when it has sufficient funds as stipulated by the state; has articles of association, an organization and premises; has the ability to independently bear civil liability; and has been approved and registered by the competent authority. 

在中华人民共和国领域内设立的中外合资经营企业、中外合作经营企业和外资企业，具备法人条件的，依法经工商行政管理机关核准登记，取得中国法人资格。

A Chinese- foreign equity joint venture, Chinese-foreign contractual joint venture or foreign-capital enterprise established within the People's Republic of China shall be qualified as a legal person in China if it has the qualifications of a legal person and has been approved and registered by the administrative agency for industry and commerce in according with the law.

第四十二条 企业法人应当在核准登记的经营范围内从事经营。

Article 42 An enterprise as legal person shall conduct operations within the range approved and registered.

第四十三条 企业法人对它的法定代表人和其他工作人员的经营活动，承担民事责任。

Article 43 An enterprise as legal person shall bear civil liability for the operational activities of its legal representatives and other personnel.

第四十四条 企业法人分立、合并或者有其他重要事项变更，应当向登记机关办理登记并公告。

Article 44 If an enterprise as legal person is divided or merged or undergoes any other important change, it shall register the change with the registration authority and publicly announce it.

企业法人分立、合并，它的权利和义务由变更后的法人享有和承担。

When an enterprise as legal person is divided or merged, its rights and obligations shall be enjoyed and assumed by the new legal person that results from the change.

第四十五条 企业法人由于下列原因之一终止：

Article 45 An enterprise as legal person shall terminate for any of the following reasons:

（一）依法被撤销；

(1) if it is dissolved by law;

（二）解散；

(2) if it is disbanded;

（三）依法宣告破产；

(3) if it is declared bankrupt in accordance with the law;

（四）其他原因。

 or (4) for other reasons.

第四十六条 企业法人终止，应当向登记机关办理注销登记并公告。

Article 46 When an enterprise as legal person terminates, it shall cancel its registration with the registration authority and publicly announce the termination.

第四十七条 企业法人解散，应当成立清算组织，进行清算。企业法人被撤销、被宣告破产的，应当由主管机关或者人民法院组织有关机关和有关人员成立清算组织，进行清算。

Article 47 When an enterprise as legal person is disbanded, it shall establish a liquidation organization and go into liquidation. When an enterprise as legal person is dissolved or is declared bankrupt, the competent authority or a people's court shall organize the organs and personnel concerned to establish a liquidation organization to liquidate the enterprise.

第四十八条 全民所有制企业法人以国家授予它经营管理的财产承担民事责任。

Article 48 An enterprise owned by the whole people, as legal person, shall bear civil liability with the property that the state authorizes it to manage.  

集体所有制企业法人以企业所有的财产承担民事责任。

An enterprise under collective ownership, as legal person, shall bear civil liability with the property it owns.

中外合资经营企业法人、中外合作经营企业法人和外资企业法人以企业所有的财产承担民事责任，法律另有规定的除外。

A Chinese-foreign equity joint venture, Chinese-foreign contractual joint venture or foreign-capital enterprise as legal person shall bear civil liability with the property it owns, except as stipulated otherwise by law.

第四十九条 企业法人有下列情形之一的，除法人承担责任外，对法定代表人可以给予行政处分、罚款，构成犯罪的，依法追究刑事责任：

Article 49 Under any of the following circumstances, an enterprise as legal person shall bear liability, its legal representative may additionally be given administrative sanctions and fined and, if the offence constitutes a crime, criminal responsibility shall be investigated in accordance with the law:

（一）超出登记机关核准登记的经营范围从事非法经营的；

(1) conducting illegal operations beyond the range approved and registered by the registration authority;

（二）向登记机关、税务机关隐瞒真实情况、弄虚作假的；

(2) concealing facts from the registration and tax authorities and practising fraud;

（三）抽逃资金、隐匿财产逃避债务的；

(3) secretly withdrawing funds or hiding property to evade repayment of debts;

（四）解散、被撤销、被宣告破产后，擅自处理财产的；

(4) disposing of property without authorization after the enterprise is dissolved, disbanded or declared bankrupt;

（五）变更、终止时不及时申请办理登记和公告，使利害关系人遭受重大损失的；

(5) failing to apply for registration and make a public announcement promptly when the enterprise undergoes a change or terminates, thus causing interested persons to suffer heavy losses;

（六）从事法律禁止的其他活动，损害国家利益或者社会公共利益的。

(6) engaging in other activities prohibited by law, damaging the interests of the state or the public interest.

第三章 法 人 第三节 机关、事业单位和社会团体法人

Section 3 Official Organ, Institution and Social Organization as Legal Person

第五十条 有独立经费的机关从成立之日起，具有法人资格。

Article 50 An independently funded official organ shall be qualified as a legal person on the day it is established.

具备法人条件的事业单位、社会团体，依法不需要办理法人登记的，从成立之日起，具有法人资格；依法需要办理法人登记的，经核准登记，取得法人资格。

If according to law an institution or social organization having the qualifications of a legal person needs not go through the procedures for registering as a legal person, it shall be qualified as a legal person on the day it is established; if according to law it does need to go through the registration procedures, it shall be qualified as a legal person after being approved and registered.

第三章 法 人 第四节 联 营

Section 4 Economic Association

第五十一条 企业之间或者企业、事业单位之间联营，组成新的经济实体，独立承担民事责任、具备法人条件的，经主管机关核准登记，取得法人资格。

Article 51 If a new economic entity is formed by enterprises or an enterprise and an institution that engage in economic association and it independently bears civil liability and has the qualifications of a legal person, the new entity shall be qualified as a legal person after being approved and registered by the competent authority.

第五十二条 企业之间或者企业、事业单位之间联营，共同经营、不具备法人条件的，由联营各方按照出资比例或者协议的约定，以各自所有的或者经营管理的财产承担民事责任。

Article 52 If the enterprises or an enterprise and an institution that engage in economic association conduct joint operation but do not have the qualifications of a legal person, each party to the association shall, in proportion to its respective contribution to the investment or according to the agreement made, bear civil liability with the property each party owns or manages. 

依照法律的规定或者协议的约定负连带责任的，承担连带责任。

If joint liability is specified by law or by agreement, the parties shall assume joint liability.

第五十三条 企业之间或者企业、事业单位之间联营，按照合同的约定各自独立经营的，它的权利和义务由合同约定，各自承担民事责任。

Article 53 If the contract for economic association of enterprises or of an enterprise and an institution specifies that each party shall conduct operations independently, it shall stipulate the rights and obligations of each party, and each party shall bear civil liability separately.

第四章 民事法律行为和代理 第一节 民事法律行为

 Chapter IV Civil Juristic Acts and Agency Section 1 Civil Juristic Acts

第五十四条 民事法律行为是公民或者法人设立、变更、终止民事权利和民事义务的合法行为。

Article 54 A civil juristic act shall be the lawful act of a citizen or legal person to establish, change or terminate civil rights and obligations.

第五十五条 民事法律行为应当具备下列条件：

Article 55 A civil juristic act shall meet the following requirements:

（一）行为人具有相应的民事行为能力；

(1) the actor has relevant capacity for civil conduct;

（二）意思表示真实；

(2) the intention expressed is genuine; 

（三）不违反法律或者社会公共利益。

and (3) the act does not violate the law or the public interest.

第五十六条 民事法律行为可以采取书面形式、口头形式或者其他形式。

Article 56 A civil juristic act may be in written, oral or other form. 

法律规定是特定形式的，应当依照法律规定。

If the law stipulates that a particular form be adopted, such stipulation shall be observed.

第五十七条 民事法律行为从成立时起具有法律约束力。

Article 57 A civil juristic act shall be legally binding once it is instituted. 

行为人非依法律规定或者取得对方同意，不得擅自变更或者解除。

The actor shall not alter or rescind his act except in accordance with the law or with the other party's consent.

第五十八条 下列民事行为无效：

Article 58 Civil acts in the following categories shall be null and void:

（一）无民事行为能力人实施的；

(1) those performed by a person without capacity for civil conduct;

（二）限制民事行为能力人依法不能独立实施的；

(2) those that according to law may not be independently performed by a person with limited capacity for civil conduct;

（三）一方以欺诈、胁迫的手段或者乘人之危，使对方在违背真实意思的情况下所为的；

(3) those performed by a person against his true intentions as a result of cheating, coercion or exploitation of his unfavourable position by the other party;

（四）恶意串通，损害国家、集体或者第三人利益的；

(4) those that performed through malicious collusion are detrimental to the interest of the state, a collective or a third party;

（五）违反法律或者社会公共利益的；

(5) those that violate the law or the public interest;

（六）经济合同违反国家指令性计划的；

(6) economic contracts that violate the state's mandatory plans; 

（七）以合法形式掩盖非法目的的。

and (7) those that performed under the guise of legitimate acts conceal illegitimate purposes.

无效的民事行为，从行为开始起就没有法律约束力。

 Civil acts that are null and void shall not be legally binding from the very beginning.

第五十九条 下列民事行为，一方有权请求人民法院或者仲裁机关予以变更或者撤销：

Article 59 A party shall have the right to request a people's court or an arbitration agency to alter or rescind the following civil acts:

（一）行为人对行为内容有重大误解的；

(1) those performed by an actor who seriously misunderstood the contents of the acts;

（二）显失公平的。

(2) those that are obviously unfair.

被撤销的民事行为从行为开始起无效。

Rescinded civil acts shall be null and void from the very beginning.

第六十条 民事行为部分无效，不影响其他部分的效力的，其他部分仍然有效。

Article 60 If part of a civil act is null and void, it shall not affect the validity of other parts.

第六十一条 民事行为被确认为无效或者被撤销后，当事人因该行为取得的财产，应当返还给受损失的一方。

Article 61 After a civil act has been determined to be null and void or has been rescinded, the party who acquired property as a result of the act shall return it to the party who suffered a loss. 

有过错的一方应当赔偿对方因此所受的损失，对方都有过错的，应当各自承担相应的责任。

The erring party shall compensate the other party for the losses it suffered as a result of the act; if both sides are in error, they shall each bear their proper share of the responsibility.

双方恶意串通，实施民事行为损害国家的、集体的或者第三人的利益的，应当追缴双方取得的财产，收归国家、集体所有或者返还第三人。

If the two sides have conspired maliciously and performed a civil act that is detrimental to the interests of the state, a collective or a third party, the property that they thus obtained shall be recovered and turned over to the state or the collective, or returned to the third party.

第六十二条 民事法律行为可以附条件，附条件的民事法律行为在符合所附条件时生效。

Article 62 A civil juristic act may have conditions attached to it. Conditional civil juristic acts shall take effect when the relevant conditions are met.

第四章 民事法律行为和代理 第二节 代理

Section 2 Agency

第六十三条 公民、法人可以通过代理人实施民事法律行为。

Article 63 Citizens and legal persons may perform civil juristic acts through agents 

代理人在代理权限内，以被代理人的名义实施民事法律行为。

An agent shall perform civil juristic acts in the principal's name within the scope of the power of agency.

被代理人对代理人的代理行为，承担民事责任。

 The principal shall bear civil liability for the agent's acts of agency. 

依照法律规定或者按照双方当事人约定，应当由本人实施的民事法律行为，不得代理。

Civil juristic acts that should be performed by the principal himself, pursuant to legal provisions or the agreement between the two parties, shall not be entrusted to an agent.

第六十四条 代理包括委托代理、法定代理和指定代理。

Article 64 Agency shall include entrusted agency, statutory agency and appointed agency. 

委托代理人按照被代理人的委托行使代理权，法定代理人依照法律的规定行使代理权，指定代理人按照人民法院或者指定单位的指定行使代理权。

An entrusted agent shall exercise the power of agency as entrusted by the principal; a statutory agent shall exercise the power of agency as prescribed by law; and an appointed agent shall exercise the power of agency as designated by a people's court or the appointing unit.

第六十五条 民事法律行为的委托代理，可以用书面形式，也可以用口头形式。

Article 65 A civil juristic act may be entrusted to an agent in writing or orally.

法律规定用书面形式的，应当用书面形式。

If legal provisions require the entrustment to be written, it shall be effected in writing.

书面委托代理的授权委托书应当载明代理人的姓名或者名称、代理事项、权限和期间，并由委托人签名或者盖章。

  Where the entrustment of agency is in writing, the power of attorney shall clearly state the agent's name, the entrusted tasks and the scope and duration of the power of agency, and it shall be signed or sealed by the principal.

委托书授权不明的，被代理人应当向第三人承担民事责任，代理人负连带责任。

If the power of attorney is not clear as to the authority conferred, the principal shall bear civil liability towards the third party, and the agent shall be held jointly liable.

第六十六条 没有代理权、超越代理权或者代理权终止后的行为，只有经过被代理人的追认，被代理人才承担民事责任。

Article 66 The principal shall bear civil liability for an act performed by an actor with no power of agency, beyond the scope of his power of agency or after his power of agency has expired, only if he recognizes the act retroactively.

未经追认的行为，由行为人承担民事责任。

 If the act is not so recognized, the performer shall bear civil liability for it. 

本人知道他人以本人名义实施民事行为而不作否认表示的，视为同意。

If a principal is aware that a civil act is being executed in his name but fails to repudiate it, his consent shall be deemed to have been given.

代理人不履行职责而给被代理人造成损害的，应当承担民事责任。

An agent shall bear civil liability if he fails to perform his duties and thus causes damage to the principal.

代理人和第三人串通，损害被代理人的利益的，由代理人和第三人负连带责任。

If an agent and a third party in collusion harm the principal's interests, the agent and the third party shall be held jointly liable.

第三人知道行为人没有代理权、超越代理权或者代理权已终止还与行为人实施民事行为给他人造成损害的，由第三人和行为人负连带责任。

If a third party is aware that an actor has no power of agency, is overstepping his power of agency, or his power of agency has expired and yet joins him in a civil act and thus brings damage to other people, the third party and the actor shall be held jointly liable.

第六十七条 代理人知道被委托代理的事项违法仍然进行代理活动的，或者被代理人知道代理人的代理行为违法不表示反对的，由被代理人和代理人负连带责任。

Article 67 If an agent is aware that the matters entrusted are illegal but still carries them out, or if a principal is aware that his agent's acts are illegal but fails to object to them, the principal and the agent shall be held jointly liable.

第六十八条 委托代理人为被代理人的利益需要转托他人代理的，应当事先取得被代理人的同意。

Article 68 If in the principal's interests an entrusted agent needs to transfer the agency to another person, he shall first obtain the principal's consent.

事先没有取得被代理人同意的，应当在事后及时告诉被代理人，如果被代理人不同意，由代理人对自己所转托的人的行为负民事责任，但在紧急情况下，为了保护被代理人的利益而转托他

If the principal's consent is not obtained in advance, the matter shall be reported to him promptly after the transfer, and if the principal objects, the agent shall bear civil liability for the acts of the transferee;

人代理的除外。

however, an entrusted agency transferred in emergency circumstances in order to safeguard the principal's interests shall be excepted.

第六十九条 有下列情形之一的，委托代理终止：

Article 69 An entrusted agency shall end under any of the following circumstances:

（一）代理期间届满或者代理事务完成；

(1) when the period of agency expires or when the tasks entrusted are completed;

（二）被代理人取消委托或者代理人辞去委托；

(2) when the principal rescinds the entrustment or the agent declines the entrustment;

（三）代理人死亡；

(3) when the agent dies;

（四）代理人丧失民事行为能力；

(4) when the principal loses his capacity for civil conduct; 

（五）作为被代理人或者代理人的法人终止。

or (5) when the principal or the agent ceases to be a legal person.

第七十条 有下列情形之一的，法定代理或者指定代理终止：

Article 70 A statutory or appointed agency shall end under any of the following circumstances:

（一）被代理人取得或者恢复民事行为能力；

(1) when the principal gains or recovers capacity for civil conduct;

（二）被代理人或者代理人死亡；

(2) when the principal or the agent dies;

（三）代理人丧失民事行为能力；

(3) when the agent loses capacity for civil conduct;

（四）指定代理的人民法院或者指定单位取消指定；

(4) when the people's court or the unit that appointed the agent rescinds the appointment;

（五）由其他原因引起的被代理人和代理人之间的监护关系消灭。

 or (5) when the guardian relationship between the principal and the agent ends for other reasons.

第五章 民事权利 第一节 财产所有权和与财产所有权有关的财产权

 Chapter V Civil Rights Section 1 Property Ownership and Related Property Rights

第七十一条 财产所有权是指所有人依法对自己的财产享有占有、使用、收益和处分的权利。

Article 71 "Property ownership" means the owner's rights to lawfully possess, utilize, profit from and dispose of his property.

第七十二条 财产所有权的取得，不得违反法律规定。

Article 72 Property ownership shall not be obtained in violation of the law.

按照合同或者其他合法方式取得财产的，财产所有权从财产交付时起转移，法律另有规定或者当事人另有约定的除外。

Unless the law stipulates otherwise or the parties concerned have agreed on other arrangements, the ownership of property obtained by contract or by other lawful means shall be transferred simultaneously with the property itself.

第七十三条 国家财产属于全民所有。

Article 73 State property shall be owned by the whole people.

国家财产神圣不可侵犯，禁止任何组织或者个人侵占、哄抢、私分、截留、破坏。

State property is sacred and inviolable, and no organization or individual shall be allowed to seize, encroach upon, privately divide, retain or destroy it.

第七十四条 劳动群众集体组织的财产属于劳动群众集体所有，包括：

Article 74 Property of collective organizations of the working masses shall be owned collectively by the working masses. This shall include:

（一）法律规定为集体所有的土地和森林、山岭、草原、荒地、滩涂等；

(1) land, forests, mountains, grasslands, unreclaimed land, beaches and other areas that are stipulated by law to be under collective ownership;

（二）集体经济组织的财产；

(2) property of collective economic organizations;

（三）集体所有的建筑物、水库、农田水利设施和教育、科学、文化、卫生、体育等设施；

(3) collectively owned buildings, reservoirs, farm irrigation facilities and educational, scientific, cultural, health, sports and other facilities; 

（四）集体所有的其他财产。

and (4) other property that is collectively owned.

集体所有的土地依照法律属于村农民集体所有，由村农业生产合作社等农业集体经济组织或者村民委员会经营、管理。

Collectively owned land shall be owned collectively by the village peasants in accordance with the law and shall be worked and managed by village agricultural production cooperatives, other collective agricultural economic organizations or villages' committees. 

已经属于乡（镇）农民集体经济组织所有的，可以属于乡（镇）农民集体所有。

Land already under the ownership of the township (town) peasants' collective economic organizations may be collectively owned by the peasants of the township (town). 

集体所有的财产受法律保护，禁止任何组织或者个人侵占、哄抢、私分、破坏或者非法查封、扣押、冻结、没收。

Collectively owned property shall be protected by law, and no organization or individual may seize, encroach upon, privately divide, destroy or illegally seal up, distrain, freeze or confiscate it.

第七十五条 公民的个人财产，包括公民的合法收入、房屋、储蓄、生活用品、文物、图书资料、林木、牲畜和法律允许公民所有的生产资料以及其他合法财产。

Article 75 A citizen's personal property shall include his lawfully earned income, housing, savings, articles for daily use, objects d'art, books, reference materials, trees, livestock, as well as means of production the law permits a citizen to possess and other lawful property. 

公民的合法财产受法律保护，禁止任何组织或者个人侵占、哄抢、破坏或者非法查封、扣押、冻结、没收。

A citizen's lawful property shall be protected by law, and no organization or individual may appropriate, encroach upon, destroy or illegally seal up, distrain, freeze or confiscate it.