就某种意义而言，法律实际上也是一种用文字构成的游戏规则。很多合同最后出现的争议实际上并非是法律争议，而是文字上的争议。比如，“星期”一词既可以解释为历法里所指的从周一到周日的七天；也可以指任何连续的七天；还可能指只有五天的工作周，而不包括周六和周日两个休息日。如果双方在合同中不对此进行精确的定义，双方就可能存在产生争议的潜在危险。因此，合同中通常都会添加定义条款，以将语言有限的精确性提升到最高，尽量限制对同一词语做出不同解释的可能性，以避免法律关系的模糊不清，引发争议。定义的方法一般有以下两种：

1. 括号定义法（通常见于定义合约的双方当事人主体）

如：

This Contract (“Contract”) is made in [place], China, on this day of [ ], 202[ ] by and between [Party A name], [Party A entity form] established and existing under the laws of China, with its [registered address] [principle place of business] at [address] (hereinafter referred to as “Party A”), and [Party B name] [Party B entity form] organized and existing under the laws of [Party B jurisdiction of incorporation] with its [registered address] [principle place of business] at [address] (hereinafter referred to as “Party B”). Party A and Party B shall hereinafter be referred to individually as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties”.

本合同于202【 】年【 】月【 】日由以下两方在【地点】签订：【甲方名称】，一家根据中华人民共和国法律组建及存续的【甲方组织形式】，【注册】【主要营业场所】地址为【甲方【注册】【主要营业场所】地址】（以下简称“甲方”）；【乙方名称】，一家根据【乙方所在国】法律组建及存续的【乙方组织形式】，【注册】【主要营业场所】地址为【乙方】【注册】【主要营业场所】地址】（以下简称“乙方”）。双方以下单独称为“一方”，合称为“双方”。

2. 特定词汇法

很多合同的定义条款都会使用“means”、“refer to”等特定词汇对词语进行定义，如：

Definitions

In this Agreement (except where the context otherwise requires) the following words and expressions shall have the following meanings:

本协议中（除非文意另有所指），下列词语与表达应具有以下涵义：

Aggregate Capital Commitments means, at a time, the aggregate amount of the Capital Commitments of all the Limited Partners or all the relevant Limited Partners (as applicable), at that time.

资本承诺总额指在某一时间，所有有限合伙人或所有相关有限合伙人（如适用）当时的资本承诺总额。

Agreement means this amended and restated exempted limited partnership agreement as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

协议指本经修订及重述的豁免有限合伙协议，并经不时修订、补充或重述。

Alternative Investment Vehicle has the meaning given in clause 29.4.

替代投资工具具有第29.4条赋予之涵义。

Auditors means such firm of auditors appointed by the General Partner which shall be a "Big Four" internationally recognized accounting firm (namely KPMG, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, PricewaterhouseCoopers or Ernst & Young) or any affiliate, network firm or successor firm thereof, or if no such firm is prepared to act, such other internationally recognized accounting firm as the General Partner shall determine from time to time to be auditors of the Fund. Auditors includes any replacement auditor appointed by the General Partner with the confirmation of the Advisory Board. 

审计师指由普通合伙人不时委任作为基金审计师的审计人员[应为国际公认的“四大”会计师事务所（即毕马威，德勤，普华永道和安永）或其任何附属机构、关联事务所或继受事务所，或，若该等事务所未能起到预期效果的，其他由普通合伙人确定的国际公认的会计师事务所]。审计师包括经咨询委员会确认、由普通合伙人委任的任何替代审计师。

Borrowing Restrictions means the borrowing restrictions set out in paragraph 2 of Schedule 2 of this Agreement.

借款限制指本协议附件二第2段所载明的借款限制。

Business Day means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a general holiday (as defined in the General Holidays Ordinance (Cap 149 of the Laws of Hong Kong)) in Hong Kong, a public holiday in Cayman Islands, or a day on which a tropical cyclone warning number 8 or higher or a black rain storm warning signal or any warning or signal considered by the General Partner to be similar in effect is hoisted in Hong Kong at any time between 9:00 a.m. and before 5:00 p.m., on which banks are open for the transaction of general banking business in Hong Kong and the Cayman Islands, unless the General Partner otherwise determines.

营业日指下列日期以外的任何日期：星期六、星期日、香港公众假期（依照公众假期条例规定（香港法例第149章））、开曼群岛公众假期、香港热带气旋警告8级或更高级别或黑色暴雨警告信号或被普通合伙人认为类似的任何警告或信号于上午9:00至下午5:00间的任何时间出现在香港，当日香港和开曼群岛可进行一般银行业务交易，除非普通合伙人另行决定。 

Capital Account means, with respect to each Limited Partner, the account established for it under clause 8 in the books and records of the Fund.

资本账户指根据第8条为各有限合伙人在基金账簿和记录中设立的账户。

Capital Commitment means, with respect to each Limited Partner, the amount of capital that Limited Partner has committed to contribute to the Fund from time to time as specified in its Subscription Agreement and (if applicable) as increased in accordance with the Agreement, which commitment if accepted by the General Partner on behalf of the Fund, may be drawn from time to time by the General Partner in accordance with the terms of the Agreement.

资本承诺额指对于各有限合伙人，该有限合伙人根据其认购协议不时承诺的基金出资额，及根据（如适用）协议的增资，该等承诺额若为普通合伙人代表基金所接受，则可由普通合伙人按照协议条款不时提取。

Capital Contribution means, with respect to each Limited Partner, the total amount of contribution to the Fund by that Limited Partner, at the relevant date.

出资额指各有限合伙人在相关日期对基金的出资总额。

Carried Interest means the amounts which the General Partner is entitled to as a carried interest under clause 9.3(a)(iii).

附带权益指根据第9.3(a)(iii)条普通合伙人有权获得的附带权益的金额。

Carried Interest Partner means AAA, a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership, including its successor(s) and permitted assign(s).

附带权益合伙人指AAA，一家开曼群岛豁免有限合伙，包括其继受人和被允许的受让人。

3. 利用附件

在大型合同中，往往需要定义很多概念。因此，合同起草者更倾向于将定义条款全部放在某个附件中，并在合同的开始部分指出这种将定义放到附件中的做法。如：

Definitions and Interpretation

定义和解释

Unless the terms or context of this Contract otherwise provide, this Contract shall be interpreted in accordance with, and each of the terms used herein shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Schedule A.

除本合同条款另有约定或上下文另有所指外，本合同的解释规则及本合同中所有相关用语的定义见附录A。