Honey, I always feel that nowadays bride price is like “buying a marriage.” If the negotiation fails, the relationship ends.

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.

So what can the law do? Just saying “don’t ask for too much” doesn’t seem effective.

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.

So this can prevent people from taking the money and leaving after getting married, right?

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.

It sounds like the law is distinguishing what counts as a gift, what counts as deception, and what should consider real-life contributions.

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.