《合同法》第14条(要约的构成)评注

Commentary on Article 14 of Contract Law: Composition of an Offer

依《合同法》第14条,要约的构成要件可以归结为三个:要约是一项表示;该表示原则上须向特定人作出,例外情形中也可以向不特定多数人作出;该表示包含特定的效果意义。效果意义包含约束意义,依据约束意义的有无可以区分要约与要约邀请、情谊关系中的表示、君子协议中的表示、交易意向、备忘录或草约中的表示。关于要约的成立及其内容,由主张其存在的当事人负担证明责任。

According to Article 14 of Contract Law,an offer should meet three requirements.Firstly,it should be a declaration.Secondly,in principle,offeree must be specific person;only in exceptional case can numerous unspecific people be offeree.Thirdly,the declaration should express definite meaning concerning effect.This meaning acts as criteria to distinguish offer from invitation to offer,declaration based on friendship,declaration in gentleman’s agreement,letter of intent,declaration in memorandum.The burden of proof rests on the party who claims the existence of an offer with certain content.