英文合同的用词特点 （第一部分）（作者：王辉）

作为正式法律文件， 英语合同在用词方面极其考究， 要求选词专业 （professional） ,正式 （formal）,准确（accuracy）。具体体现如下：

 1．专业性术语（Technical Terms/ Terminology）

 法律专业性术语是在合同等法律文件中才用到的词汇， 它并不以一般受众为对象， 而针对专业人士，力求使语言表达准确无误。中文合同中常见的诸如"瑕疵"（defect） 、"救济"（remedy）、"不可抗力"（force Majeure） 、"管辖"(jurisdiction)等专业用词就已经让非专业人士大惑不解了，英文合同的专业用词自然就更玄妙无比了。具体的实例如下：

Without prejudice  to the parties'' rights under Clause 18. 1, the indemnities provided for  in Clausel6. 1 and/or 16. 2 and/or 16. 3 shall be the sole compensation for the damages caused by such delays.

不妨害18.1 款双方的权利，16.1,16.2 及16.3款规定的赔偿应为上述延误引起损害的唯一赔偿金。 indemnities较 compensation 专业，此处用 compensation 解释了 indemnities；Any such assignment, transfer or conveyance shall be without  other consideration than  the  mutual

covenants and considerations of this agreement.

任何转让除根据本协议相互契约和对价外不得考虑其他。

Transfer，assignment和 conveyance 都有转让的含义，其中 assignment 和conveyance（多用于不动产）尤为专业。

 

We advise you of our intention to terminate our tenancy on or before _____ (Date) and todeliver to you full possession of the premises。

我方不迟于某日期通知你方终止租约并交还房屋全部所有。

tenancy指房屋租赁的租约，而 premises指租赁的房屋及其附属物都是专业用语。

 

Licensee agrees to pay to Licensor a minimum royalty of______ Dollars ($_____) as a minimum

guarantee against royalties to be paid to Licensor during  the first contract term, said minimum royalty to be paid on or before the last day of the initial term hereto.   

受许可方同意支付许可方最低使用费*美元作为该许可合同第一期使用费的最低保证金，该最低使用费不迟于本合同的入门期最后一天支付给许可方。Royalties在许可合同中专指特许权使用费。 

 

Price of the Contract shall be calculated on Royalty in accordance with the content and scope stipulated in Article 2 to the Contract and shall be paid in_______.

按照第二条规定的内容和范围。本合同采用提成方式计算价格，计价的货币为＿＿＿。

与上例不同的是，这里的royalty指的是许可合同计价方式的一种即提成计价(royalty price),相对于统包价格（lumpsum price） 

 

Default in observing or  performing any of the covenants or agreements of debtor set forth in any collateral document of security given to secure  indebtedness hereunder, and the continuation of such default beyond any period of grace specified in any such document.

借款人未能履行契约或附带的担保文件列明的协议，以及该违约的持续超过上述文件规定的宽限期。在借款合同中 grace 专指宽限期，而不是普通英语的其他意思。

 

Furthermore, the parties agree that  the following situations shall be considered as exceptional

circumstances which justify the earlier termination by the other party: bankruptcy, moratorium,

receivership, liquidation or any kind of composition between the debtor  and the creditors,  or  any circumstances which are likely to affect substantially one party''s ability to carry out his obligations under this contract。

此外，双方同意以下条件应认为是对方合理提前终止合同的例外情形：破产、延付令、破产在管、清算或其他债权人和债务人任何形式的和解，或任何可能对一方履行合同项下义务能力造成实质影响的情形。

此处的composition 显然不是普通英语中"作文"的意思，而是指破产和解。

In addition,  upon request of the Board and if the  Liquidating  Trustee determines that it  would be imprudent to dispose of any non-cash assets of the Company, such assets may be distributed in kind to the Members in lieu of cash, proportionately to their right to receive cash distributions hereunder.

另外，应董事会请求且如果清算托管人确定处理本公司非现金财产非明智之举，该财产可按各成员根据合同项下收取现金份额的权利以实物形式替代现金进行分配。

In kind  此处与 in cash  相对，通常用于合资、合伙协议中表示"以实物出资"，本句中是以实物分配清算。In lieu of  表示替代相当于基础英语中的instead of。

 

The Buyer shall establish the covering  letter of credit before the date specified in Clause Three of this Sales Confirmation, failing which the  Seller reserves the right to rescind without further  notice, or to accept whole  or any part  of this Sales Confirmation not fulfilled by the Buyer, or to lodge a claim for losses sustained, if any.

买方须于销售确认书第三条所规定的日期之前开出本批交易的信用证。否则，售方有权不经通知取消本确认书，或接受买方对本销售确认书未履行的全部或一部分，或对因此遭受的损失提出索赔。

Reserve 为专用词汇，我们常见的"版权所有"英语表达就是 All rights reserved。Rescind（取消合同/协议）和 lodge（提出索赔，与claim(s)连用）也都是专业用语。

 

In case one party desires  to sell or assign all or part of his  investment subscribed, the other party shall have  the preemptive right. 

如一方欲出售或转让其所投资的部分或全部，另一方应有优先购买权。

Assign（其名词形式 assignment）和 Preemptive 属专业用语。

 

2.  正式用语（Formal Terms）

英文合同，习惯采用书面的形式，合同往往使用正式的书面用语，较少使用口头用语，以显示合同正规、严肃。具体实例如下：

 

At the request of Party B, Party A agrees to send technicians to assist Party B to install the equipment.

应乙方要求，甲方同意派遣技术人员帮助乙方安装设备。

assist  较 help  正式； 

 

The personnel shall not to partake in any political activities in Iraq.

所有人员不得参加伊拉克国内的任何政治活动。

partake in  较  take part in  正式；

 

The Employer shall render correct technical guidance to the personnel.

雇主应该对有关人员给予正确技

术指导。render  较 give  正式；

 

Party A shall repatriate the patient to China and bear the cost of his passage to Guangzhou.

甲方应将病人遣返中国并负责其返回广州的旅费。 repatriate  较 send back  正式；

 

This Contract shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of China.

本合同受中国法律管辖，并按中国法律解释。

construe  较 explain, interpret 正式；in accordance with 较 according to正式。

 

he Chairperson may convene and preside an interim meeting based on a proposal made by one-third of the total number of directors.

董事长可以根据董事会过1/3 董事的提议而召集主持临时董事会议。

Convene 较 hold 正式，preside 较 be in charge of  正式，interim也是正式用词较 temporary正式。

 

In processing transactions, the manufacturers shall never have title either to the materials or the finished products.

加工贸易中，厂方无论是对原料还是成品都无所有权。 title  较 ownership  正式。

 

he term "Effective date" means the  date on which this Agreement is duly executed by the  parties hereto.

"生效期"指双方合同签字的日子。execute  较 sign  正式；

 

The submission to and  consent by  the  Engineer of such programs or the  provision of such  general descriptions or cash flow estimates shall not relieve the Contractor of any of his duties or responsibilities under the Contract.

向工程师提交并同意的上述进度计划或提供上述一般说明或现金流量估算，并不解除合同规定的承包人的任何义务或责任。

Consent 和 estimate 都是正式用词；

 

The Appendix hereto shall, through the contract period, be deemed to be construed as an integral part of this Contract. 

整个合同期间，本合同附件应理解为合同不可分割的一部分。deem较 consider正式。  

 

The parties shall work together in order to endeavour to achieve the timely completion of the Project in accordance with the Project Schedule as Annex 4 according to which  the construction  period shall  be _____years from the commencement date.

双方共同努力确保按附件四的工程进度表及时竣工，根据该工程进度表工期应从开工日起*年。

Commencement 较 starting、beginning 正式。

 

同、近义词、相关词并列（Parallel Synonyms, Parasynonyms and Associated） 在英文合同中同近义词或相关词成对或多个并列连用，使合同周密严谨，以减少漏洞和争议。 

This agreement is made and entered into by and between Party A and Party B.

本协议由甲方与乙方签订。

句中 made 与 entered into 同义，而 by与 between 相关。

 

Party A agrees to purchase from Party B the following commodity under the terms and conditions set out below: 

甲方同意按照下列条款向乙方购买如下商品：

terms  和 conditions 同义，往往并列连用表示合同的条款。

 

Party A shall be unauthorized to accept any order sort to collect any account on and after September 20.

自 9 月 2O日起，甲方已无权接受任何定单或收据。On 与 after相关词连用用以明确时间。

 

Any partner or his/her agent, may review any and all accounting or other records at anytime.

任何合伙人或其代理人， 可随时审查任一或全部会计账目或其他记录。

 Any  与 all  相关词连用， 表达更为严谨。  

 

The decision by such arbitration shall be accepted as final and binding upon both parties。

该仲裁裁决为终局裁决，双方均受其约束。

Final 和 binding 属相关词连用。 

 

The Company hereby releases  and  discharges Party A from further  performance of, and any duties, obligations or liabilities under, the amended Agreement.

本公司特此解除甲方已修正协议的进一步履行及其修正协议下的义务和责任。

Release 和discharge 相关词连用，duty，obligation 和liability属近同义词连用。

 

If the Contractor shall duly perform and observe all the terms, provisions, conditions and stipulations of the said Contract, this obligation shall be null or void but otherwise shall be and remain in full force and effect.

如果承包人切实履行并遵守上述合同的所有条款、条件及规定，此义务即告终止，否则将保

持完全有效。

句中 terms, provisions, conditions，stipulations为一组同义词，意为合同的条款及规定，null 和 void，be 和 remain，force 和 effect 也都是同义连用。