Level 5

계약금

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Meaning and Usage

The word '계약금' refers to the deposit or earnest money paid when signing a contract. It shows the buyer's or party's serious intention to proceed with the agreement. This term is commonly used in real estate, business deals, and service contracts.

Common Contexts

You will often hear '계약금' in situations involving property purchases, rental agreements, or any formal contract where a sum of money is paid upfront to secure the deal.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 계약금을 내다: to pay the deposit
  • 계약금을 돌려주다: to refund the deposit
  • 계약금으로 잡다: to hold as a deposit

These phrases are useful for discussing the payment, refund, or handling of the deposit.

Register and Politeness

'계약금' is a formal noun used in business and legal contexts. It is neutral in politeness and can be used in both formal and informal speech depending on the sentence.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse '계약금' with '보증금' (security deposit). While both involve money paid upfront, '계약금' is part of the contract payment, often non-refundable if the contract is broken, whereas '보증금' is usually refundable and serves as a security for damages or unpaid fees.

Example Sentences

집을 사기 위해 계약금을 먼저 지불했다.

Jibeul sagi wihae gyeyakgeumeul meonjeo jibulhaetda.

I paid the deposit first to buy the house.

계약금을 내지 않으면 계약이 성립되지 않는다.

Gyeyakgeumeul naeji aneumyeon gyeyagi seongnipdoeji anhneunda.

If you don't pay the deposit, the contract will not be established.

계약금은 보통 전체 금액의 10% 정도로 정해진다.

Gyeyakgeumeun botong jeonche geumaegui 10% jeongdoro jeonghaejinda.

The deposit is usually set at about 10% of the total amount.