Translation of Business
Chine
.一．商务信函
.1．商务信函都具有很强的专业性、实用
性及规范性，具体到语言层面，它要求
行文简洁，措辞婉约，语气平和而庄重。
汉语商务书信英译中注意作为语域标志
的套话。
.（1）提请卖方注意：我方定单拖欠至今
尚未履行。
.We brought to the knowledge ofthe Sellerthat our order had been
outstandingfor considerable time.
.（2）如能速报你方产品最低价，我方将
不胜感激。
.We shall be ?if you will quote us your
rock-bottom prices for your products at
your earliest convenience.
.（3）随函附寄我方价目单一式两份，烦
请查收。
.? plea find two copies of our price list.
.（4）兹通告，友谊公司将采取一切必要
的措施，追究任何未经许可制造或销售
注有友谊商标的当事人。
.Notice is ?given that FRIENDSHIP Ltd.
will take all necessary measures against
any party manufacturing and /orlling any garment bearing the
trademark of “FRIENDSHIP”without
being authorized.
.(5) 自二零零三年四月十五日起，张莉女
士与本公司脱离关系。特此通告。
.Notice is herebygiven that Mrs. Zhang
Li is no longer connected with our
Company, with effectfromApril 12,
2003.
.2.公文语惯用副词：常用的这类副词是
由here、there、where 等副词分别加上
after、by、in、of、on、to、under、
upon、with 等副词，构成一体化形式的
公文语副词。例如：
.从此以后、今后：hereafter；
.此后、以后：thereafter；
.在其上：thereon ；
.在其下：thereunder；
.对于这个：hereto
.
对于那个：whereto；
.在上文：hereinabove
.3.Formulas ud in
Business English
.1 如下列所记，如附件所述，等。
.
1. As stated below,
rl是什么意思2. As shown on the next page3. As shown in the enclod documents,
4. As already mentioned,
5. As detailed in the previous letter,
.
.
.2）我们盼望于近日内接获回
信。
.
We hope to receive your
favour at an early date.
.3）特此奉告等
.1To bring to one’s notice
(knowledge);
2 To point out; To indicate; To
mention; To appri one of;
.
.4)为(目的)奉告某某事项
The purpo of this letter is to
inform you that (of)
.5) 特回答贵公司某月某日函所叙
述有关事项等
In reply to your letter of the
5th of May, I have to inform
you that (of)
.6)非常遗憾，我们奉告您关于，
等。
We regret to inform you that …
7)当我们得悉……甚为遗憾等。
.We are very sorry to hear
(know) that
.8)我们对于您某月某日来函的询价，深表谢
意等。
1. We thank you very much for your
inquiryof the l0th of May3. We are very much obliged by your
enquiry dated the 10th May3. We are indebted to your inquiry under
date (of) the 10th May for
.
9) 兹函附某某，请查收，等。
.
1. Enclod plea find2. Enclod we hand you
.10) 遵照某月某日来函指示，
等。
In accordance withthe
instructions given (contained) in
your favour of the 10th May
.11) 因电文不太明确……，等。
1. Your telegram just received is
quite unintelligible.
2. Your telegram is not clear;
explain the third and fourth words.
4. Your telegram is unintelligible;
repeat more fully in plain language.
3.商贸文书中常见英语翻译错
误举例
.在一些由中文翻译的英语样本、合同、
广告和其他文件材料中常见一些翻译错
误，现仅举几个出现频率较高的例子，
试作分析.
.1).由港澳国际投资公司投资的海口电
站工程因其建设速度和质量得到高度评
价。
.
原译文：The Haikou Power Station
Project invested by the Hongkong-
Macau International Investment Co, Ltd.
was highly appraid for its construction
speed and quality.
problem?
.投资某项工程应为invest in a project，
在被动语态中不能漏去前置词in。应译为：
.The Haikou Power Station Project
invested in（在某些情况下可用
financed or funded）by the Hongkong-
Macau International Investment Co.,
Ltd. was highly appraid for its
construction speed and quality.
..2)中国民生银行有限公司
.原译文：China Minsheng Banking
Corporation, Ltd.
.What is the problem?
.注：corporation本身即为有限公司，相
当于limited company，英译中无需再加
“Ltd”。应译为：
.China Minsheng Banking Corporation
.
3).项目中标之后，我们将立即开始前期
准备工作。
.原译文：After the bid is awarded, we
shall immediately start our advance-
pha preparation.
中译英在线翻译
.Problem?
.注：项目中标应为accept a bid or award
the contract。显然上述译文把两种表达
法相混淆了。应译为：
.After the bid is accepted (or the
contract is awarded), we shall
immediately start our advance-pha
preparation.
.4)在双方签约之后，各方将严格遵守本
协议。
.原译文：After this agreement is signed
by the two parties, all parties shall
strictly abide by it.
.Problem?
.5)由“维多利亚”轮运走/运来/承运的最
后一批货将于10 月1 日抵达伦敦。
.The last batch by/ex/per S.S. "Victoria"
will arrive at London on October .
.6) 该货于11 月10 日由“东风”轮运出，
41 天后抵达鹿特丹港。
The good shall be shipped per M.V.
"Dong Feng" on November 10 and are
due to arrive at Rotterdam after 140
days. (M.V.= motor vesl)
.7)未了的债务须在月底前偿还。
.The outstanding debts must be paid
before the end of the month.
.4. 商务合同英译应注意的问题
.
商务合同是一种特殊的应用文体，重在
记实，用词行文的一大特点就是准确与
严谨。
.4.1、酌情使用
公文语惯用副词
.商务合同属于法律性公文，所以英译时，
要用公文语词语、特别是酌情使用英语
惯用的一套公文语副(formulas)，就会
起到使译文结构严谨、逻辑严密、言简
意赅的作用。
.例1：本合同自买方和建造方签署之
日生效。
.This Contract shall come into force from
the date of execution hereof by the
Buyer and the Builder.
.4.2、慎重处理合同的关键细目
.比如：金钱、时间、数量等。为了避免
出差错，在英译合同时，常常使用一些
有限定作用的结构来界定细目所指定的
确切范围。
.4.2.1限定责任
合同中要明确规定双方的责任。为英
a host of
译出双方责任的权限与范围，常常使用
连词和介词的固定结构。
4.2.1.1 The u of and/or
.例1：如果上述货物对船舶和（或）船
上其它货物造成任何损害，托运人应负
全责。
.The shipper shall be liable for all
damage caud by such goods to the
ship and/or cargo on board.
4.2.1.2 by and between
.常用by and between 强调合同
是由“双方”签订的，因此双方必
须严格履行合同所赋于的责任。
.例2：买卖双方同意按下述条款购买出
售下列商品并签订本合同。
.This Contract is made by and betweenthe Buyer and the Seller, whereby the
Buyer agrees to buy and the Seller
agrees to ll the undermentioned
commodity subject tothe terms and
conditions stipulated below.
.4.2.2限定时间
.英译与时间有关的文字，都应非常严格
慎重地处理，因为合同对时间的要求是
准确无误。所以英译起止时间时，常用
以下结构来限定准确的时间。
.4.2.2.1 双介词
如何交朋友
.用双介词英译含当天日期在内的起止时
间。
.例1：自9月2O日起，甲方已无权接受任
何定单或收据。
Party A shall be unauthorized to accept
any orders or to collect any account —
———September 20.
.
例2 ：我公司的条件是，3 个月内，即不
得晚于5月1日，支付现金。
.Our terms are cash within three months,
< onor beforeMay 1.
.4.2.2.2 not(no)later than
.例1：本合同签字之日一个月内，即不
迟于12月15日，你方须将货物装船。
.Party B shall ship the goods within one
month of the date of signing this
Contract, i.e. not later thanDecember
15.
.
4.2.3限定金额
.为避免金额数量的差漏、伪造或涂改，
英译时常用以下措施严格把关。
..4.2.3.1大写文字重复金额
法定代表人英文
英译金额须在小写之后，在括号内
用大写文字重复该金额，即使原文合同
中没有大写，英译时也有必要加上大写。
在大写文字前加上“SAY”，意为“大
写”；在最后加上“ONLY”。意思为
“整”。必须注意：小写与大写的金额
数量要一致。
.
例：聘方须每月付给受聘方美
元500
元整。
Party A shall pay Party B a monthly
salary of US $ 500 (SAY FIVE HUNDRED其实你不懂他的心电影
US DOLLARS ONLY)
.4.2.3.2 . 正确使用货币符号
.英译金额必须注意区分和正确使用各种
不同的货币名称符号。
.港元：HKD
.人民币: RMB￥
.
日元：JPY
.欧洲货币联盟欧元:
.俄罗斯卢布:
.德国马克:
kepler.美国：
.法国：
.英国：
.加拿大：
澳大利亚：
.4.3 选词的专业和正式
.4.3.1 May, shall, must ,shall not 的使用
.
may: rights of both parties
.shall: obligations of both parties
.must: compulsory obligations
.双方首先应该通过友好协商解决因合同
发生的或者与合同有关的争议。
.The parties hereto shall, first of all,
ttle any dispute arising from or in
connection with the contract by friendly
negotiation
.4.3.2 正式用语
.1)由于，因为：
.
becau of (×)
.by virtue of, due to (√)
.2)财务年度末
.A: in the end of the fiscal year (×)
.B: at the clo of the fiscal year (√)
.3)在之前
.A：before
.B: Prior to
.4) 关于
你问我答2
.A: about
.B: concerning
.
5)事实上6)认为
.A: in fact A: think, believe
.B: in effect B: deem, consider
.7) 愿意做
.A: want to do, wish to do
.B: intend to do, desire to do
.Translation practice
.1) 我们希望指出，这里市场竞争激烈，要
想成功地销售出去，你方报价须具有吸引
力，否则将有困难.
.1)We would like to point out that
becau of the harsh / fierce
competition in our market your
quotation must be attractive to the
buyers at our end before we could ll
successfully your products here.
.We would like to point out that your
cicc
quotation has to be attractive to the
buyers here, otherwi it would be
difficult for us to ll your products in
this competitive market.
.2)如果你方的价格做得开的话，我们相信
能成大生意.
.a.If your prices are in line, we trust
important business can materialize.
b,If your prices are attractive, we
believe we can make big business.
.3)很高兴收到你方8月25日询价，根据你
方要求，今寄上有插图的目录和明细价目
单.
.4)很高兴收到你方8月25日询价
.We are very plead to receive your
inquiry of August 25.
.
5）我方可保证收到订单后两周内交货
.We would try to effect shipment
in fourteen days of the receipt
of your order
.
.6）我方产品质量上乘，价格合理.
.Our products / goods are both excellent
in quality and reasonable in price.(
.7）最近市场上对钢管需求量很大，因此
我方对此实盘不能保留太久。
.There has been a great / big / active
demand for steel tubes in the market,
Therefore we can't keep this offer open
too long.
.8）需求大则必然会造成涨价，这一点希望引起
你方注意，同时请你们早日作答。
.Active demand will certainly result in
incread price, to which we hope you will
pay attention. Meanwhile , we expect your
early reply .
.Active demand will certainly result in
incread price, and for this reason we expect
your early reply
.9）大量询盘证明我们产品质量过硬。
一旦价格回升，询盘将恢复活跃。
.Heavy enquiries witness the quality of
our products. As soon as the price picks
up, enquiries will revive
.
.10）随函附寄我方产品小册子一份。一
旦收到你放的询价，我方会寄出样品，
并报以最优惠的价格。
.We are enclosing herewith a booklet
of our products. As soon as we have
received your inquiry, we will
immediately nd you the samples and
offer you favorable prices.
.11)兹复你方8月4日来函，附上我方322
号订单，至希洽照。
.In reply to your letter dated Fourth
August, we have pleasure to enclo
our order No 322 for your careful
attention.
二：商务信函的全文翻译
.
…先生：
.根据2010年3月10号所签订的购买合同，货物应该在5月底交
货。
.According to the purcha contract dated March 10,2010, the
goods should have been delivered by the end of the May.
.遗憾的是，我方迄今尚未收到此货物。亦未接到你方发货通知。
法语论坛.Unfortunately/we regret to tell you, neither have we received
your goods nor have we received the notice of shipment
.…谨上
.2010年6月1日
.于急需此货，我方确定7月底为交货截止日期。
若你放仍然不能按时交货，我方只得撤约.
.As we need goods urgently, we will t the
end of July as the deadline for delivery. If you
do not deliver by this time, we must cancel
the contract.
.Yours faithfully
.date
