【中文版】

股票期权是指买方在支付一定数额的期权费后，获得在未来某一特定日期或该日之前的任何时间以固定价格购买或出售股票的权利。期权的买方拥有权利而不必履行义务，卖方则必须履行义务而不能行使权利。

股票期权的本质是股票的买卖权。期权的买方在期权合约规定的时间内，有权以执行价格从期权卖方那里买入或卖出约定数量的股票。同样，卖方在期权合约规定的时间内，被要求以执行价格向期权买方卖出或买入约定数量的股票。

股票期权通常被视为一种金融衍生品，其价值取决于基础资产（如股票）的价格变动。在股票期权合约到期时，如果基础资产的价格高于执行价格，买方会选择执行期权，卖方则被迫执行期权。如果基础资产的价格低于执行价格，买方可以选择不执行期权，卖方则获得不执行的权利。

股票期权具有高风险高回报的特点，因此投资者需要谨慎评估自己的风险承受能力和投资目的。

总的来说，股票期权是一种金融衍生品，赋予买方在未来某一特定日期或该日之前的任何时间以固定价格购买或出售股票的权利。

【英文版】

Stock options refer to the right of the buyer, after paying a certain amount of option premium, to purchase or sell stocks at a fixed price on or before a specific date in the future. The buyer has the right to exercise the option without obligation, while the seller is obliged to fulfill the obligation without exercising the right.

The essence of stock options is the right to buy or sell stocks. The buyer has the right to buy or sell the agreed number of stocks at the exercise price during the contractual period specified in the option contract. Similarly, the seller is required to sell or buy the agreed number of stocks at the exercise price to the buyer during the contractual period specified in the option contract.

Stock options are usually considered as a kind of financial derivative, whose value depends on the price movement of the underlying asset (such as stocks). When the option contract expires, if the price of the underlying asset is higher than the exercise price, the buyer will choose to exercise the option, and the seller is forced to exercise the option. If the price of the underlying asset is lower than the exercise price, the buyer can choose not to exercise the option, and the seller obtains the right not to exercise.

Stock options have the characteristics of high risks and high returns, so investors need to carefully evaluate their risk tolerance and investment goals.

In general, stock options are a kind of financial derivative that gives the buyer the right to buy or sell stocks at a fixed price on or before a specific date in the future.