定金可以翻译为earnest money。

定金是在合同订立时或在合同履行前当事人约定一方预先给付对方一定数量的金钱，以保障合同债权实现的一种担保方式。债务人履行债务后，定金应当收回或者抵作价款的一种担保合同。

在定金合同中，给付定金的一方不履行约定的债务的，无权要求返还定金；收受定金的一方不履行约定的债务的，应当双倍返还定金。

根据我国法律规定，定金合同属于从合同、要式合同、实践合同。同时，定金合同具有定金罚则的效力。

【双语法条】

我国《民法典》第五百八十六、五百八十七和五百八十八条规定：

当事人可以约定一方向对方给付定金作为债权的担保。定金合同自实际交付定金时成立。

The parties may agree that one party provides earnest money with the other party to secure the claim. An earnest money contract is formed upon actual delivery of the earnest money.

定金的数额由当事人约定；但是，不得超过主合同标的额的百分之二十，超过部分不产生定金的效力。实际交付的定金数额多于或者少于约定数额的，视为变更约定的定金数额。

The amount of the earnest money shall be agreed by the parties， except that it may not exceed 20% of the value of the object of the principal contract， and any excessive amount does not have the effect of earnest money. Where the amount of the earnest money actually delivered is more or less than the agreed amount， the agreed amount of the earnest money is deemed to have been changed.

债务人履行债务的，定金应当抵作价款或者收回。给付定金的一方不履行债务或者履行债务不符合约定，致使不能实现合同目的的，无权请求返还定金；收受定金的一方不履行债务或者履行债务不符合约定，致使不能实现合同目的的，应当双倍返还定金。

After a debtor has performed the obligation， the earnest money shall be calculated as part of the price or be refunded. Where a party paying the earnest money fails to perform the obligation or fails to perform it in conformity with the agreement so that the purpose of the contract cannot be achieved， the party is not entitled to request a refund of the earnest money. Where a party receiving the earnest money fails to perform the obligation or fails to perform it in conformity with the agreement so that the purpose of the contract cannot be achieved， the party shall refund twice the amount of the earnest money to the other party.

当事人既约定违约金，又约定定金的，一方违约时，对方可以选择适用违约金或者定金条款。

Where the parties agree on both liquidated damages and earnest money， when a party defaults， the other party may choose to apply either the clause on the liquidated damages or the clause on the earnest money.

定金不足以弥补一方违约造成的损失的，对方可以请求赔偿超过定金数额的损失。

Where the amount of the earnest money is insufficient to compensate the losses caused by one party’s default， the other party may request compensation for the losses in excess of the amount of the earnest money.