Civil Code Article 470
This English translation was last updated on 2021-01-20, but the Chinese text was amended on 2026-08-17. Later amendments may not be reflected in the translation — please refer to the Chinese text.
The borrower shall return the thing lent at the end of the agreed period. If no such period is agreed upon, the thing shall be returned after the borrower has made use of it for the purposes of the loan. However, the lender may also demand the return of the thing lent when a reasonable period has elapsed and it may be presumed that the borrower did make use of it.If an indefinite period of a loan and cannot be inferred from the purposes of the loan, the lender may demand the return of the thing lent at any time.
中文原文 民法第470條
借用人應於契約所定期限屆滿時，返還借用物；未定期限者，應於依借貸之目的使用完畢時返還之。
但經過相當時期，可推定借用人已使用完畢者，貸與人亦得為返還之請求。
借貸未定期限，亦不能依借貸之目的而定其期限者，貸與人得隨時請求返還借用物。
但經過相當時期，可推定借用人已使用完畢者，貸與人亦得為返還之請求。
借貸未定期限，亦不能依借貸之目的而定其期限者，貸與人得隨時請求返還借用物。