甲方 / 乙方【jiǎfāng / yǐfāng】

甲方 and 乙方 are how a contract refers to its two parties. 甲 and 乙 are the first two of a traditional series used for ordering, like A and B, and 方 means "side". The contract names each party once at the top and from then on uses only the label.

甲方 is usually the side that commissions the work or pays, and 乙方 the side that provides it. A third party is 丙方.

Both parties together

甲乙双方 or just 双方 covers both at once, typically in the clauses on signing, changes and disputes.

Keep the label

Once the parties are labelled, the body never switches back to names or pronouns, and the labels aren't translated from English numbering.

• × 第一方应在五日内付款。 → 甲方应在五日内付款。
• × 他们应在五日内交货。 → 乙方应在五日内交货。

Outside the contract

In office talk, 甲方 also means "the client" in general – the side that sets the requirements – and 乙方 the supplier who has to meet them.