An action instituted in a people's court for protection of civil rights is prescribed by three years. The preive period shall be calculated from the day when the obligee knows or should have known that his or her right has been infringed upon and who the obligor is, except as otherwise provided for by any law. The people's court shall not offer protection if 20 years have elapsed since the infringement; but under special circumstances, the people's court may decide to extend the preive period upon application of the obligee. 向⼈民法院请求保护民事权利的诉讼时效期间为三年。 诉讼时效期间自权利人知道或者应当知道权利受到损害以及义务人之日起计算。法律另有规定的，依照其规定。但是，⾃权利受到损害之日起超过⼆十年的，⼈民法院不予保护，有特殊情况的，⼈民法院可以根据权利利人的申请决定延长。 Where the parties have agreed on the installment performance of a debt, the preive period shall be calculated from the day when the time limit for the last installment expires. 当事人约定同一债务分期履行的，诉讼时效期间自最后一期履行期限届满之日起计算。