[HSK 5] 彩礼不是“买婚姻” - Bride Price Is Not “Buying a Marriage”

The law clarifies the boundaries of bride price to reduce disputes that treat marriage as a transaction.

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《English Translation》

陈花: Honey, I always feel that nowadays bride price is like “buying a marriage.” If the negotiation fails, the relationship ends.
黄刚: That’s exactly the problem: bride price was originally a gesture of courtesy and blessing, but when it becomes excessively high, it turns into a transaction and conflicts increase.
陈花: So what can the law do? Just saying “don’t ask for too much” doesn’t seem effective.
黄刚: The role of the rule of law is to set boundaries. For example, in a “flash marriage,” if one party refuses to live together afterward, the other party’s request to return the bride price is often supported by the court.
陈花: So this can prevent people from taking the money and leaving after getting married, right?
黄刚: Yes. But if the couple didn’t register the marriage yet lived together for a long time and even had children, then asking for a full refund is usually not supported, because marriage is not an investment you can cancel at any time.
陈花: It sounds like the law is distinguishing what counts as a gift, what counts as deception, and what should consider real-life contributions.
黄刚: Exactly — by making the boundaries clearer, bride price can return to being a “gift,” and marriage can be based more on trust rather than calculation.