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In English, “may” and “may not” are words that are commonly used in contracts, together with alternatives such as “has the right to”, “is entitled to”, “shall not” and “must not”.

In Chinese, the equivalent words that are most commonly seen are ke [], keyi [可以], you quan [有权] and bude [不得].

This column explores the ways in which these words and expressions are used, and identifies some of the drafting challenges that arise.

The English words

The word “may” is often referred to as the language of discretion or the language of permission, as distinct from the language of obligation as in the case of “shall” and “must” (see China Business Law Journal volume 1 issue 5, page 84: Shall or must? Words of Obligation).

The word “may” is commonly used to mean “is permitted”, “is entitled” or “has the right” to do something, either in a contractual or legal sense. For example:

如任何一方严重违约,则另一方可解除本合同。

Either party may terminate this contract in the event of a material breach by the other party.

In English, “may” is also used to mean that something is possible. For example:

若申请材料不全,有关部门可要求[意即该部门有可能会要求]申请人补交申请材料。

If the application does not contain all relevant details, the authorities may require [i.e. it is possible that the authorities will require] the applicant to submit a supplementary application.

In common law jurisdictions, disputes have often arisen over the interpretation of the word “may” and whether it actually means “shall” or “must”. This issue arose in the recent UK case of Ener-G Holdings v Hormell [2012].

In this case, the England Wales Court of Appeal considered the use of the word “may” in the context of the following notice clause:

13.1 书面通知

本协议项下任何通知或其他通信应采用书面形式,并经发出通知或通信的一方或其代表签署。

13.2 送达

该等通知可通过专人递送或邮资预付的挂号邮递方式送达有关一方(如送达买方,须注明“收件人:董事”)在本协议中列明的地址或该一方可能不时书面通知另一方的位于英格兰和威尔士境内的任何其他地址。

13.1 Notice in writing

Any notice or other communication under this agreement shall be in writing and signed by or on behalf of the party giving it.

13.2 Service

Any such notice may be served by delivering it personally, or by sending it by pre-paid recorded delivery post to each party (in the case of the buyer, marked “for the attention of directors”) at or to the address referred in the Agreement or any other address in England and Wales, which he or it may from time to time notify in writing to the other party.

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葛安德 Andrew Godwin
葛安德
Andrew Godwin

A former partner of Linklaters Shanghai, Andrew Godwin teaches law at Melbourne Law School in Australia, where he is an associate director of its Asian Law Centre. Andrew’s new book is a compilation of China Business Law Journal’s popular Lexicon series, entitled China Lexicon: Defining and translating legal terms. The book is published by Vantage Asia and available at law.asia.

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