earnest money
earnest money — 片語
1. an amount a buyer pays early in a deal to show serious intent and hold the prope
定金
簽約前先付、表示成交誠意的一筆錢
an amount a buyer pays early in a deal to show serious intent and hold the property or sale while the final contract is completed
Aylin paid earnest money to reserve the apartment before the inspection.
Aylin 在驗屋前先付了定金，好保留那間公寓。
pay earnest money to reserve a property
The seller kept the earnest money after the buyers cancelled the deal.
買家取消交易後，賣方保留了那筆定金。
keep earnest money after a buyer cancels
Before signing anything, Meera asked how much earnest money the agent required.
正式簽字前，Meera 先問仲介要付多少定金。
Earnest money was returned when the inspection found major roof damage.
檢查發現屋頂有嚴重損壞後，定金就退回來了。
The contract said earnest money would be refunded within three days.
合約寫明，定金會在三天內退還。
- deposit
broader term for money paid first; it is not limited to showing serious intent in a contract
- good-faith deposit
very close in meaning and often used in property sales to stress honest intent
- down payment
usually focuses on the first part of the purchase price, not specifically on holding the deal open
文法句型
pay earnest money
put down earnest money
lose earnest money
earnest money on a house
用法筆記
Usually appears in property sales and other formal purchase contracts. The contract often states when the seller may keep it and when it must be returned.