Chapter I Basic Principles
第一章 基本原则
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 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 3 Parties to a civil activity shall have equal status.
第三条 当事人在民事活动中的地位平等。
Article 4 In civil activities, the principles of voluntariness, fairness, making compensation for equal value, honesty and credibility shall be observed.
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 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 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 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 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.
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。
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.
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。