1、5.3 Words and phrases used in the 1.be interested in“be interested in”这一短语在日常英语中表示的是 “对某事感兴趣” ，但在外贸信件中，这一短语被广泛应用，并逐渐获得了一种新的含义。在不同的上下文中，很难用“对.感兴趣”这种一刀切的译法，否则，译文常常可能文理不通。1）We would be interested in receiving your inquiries for all types of Electric Goods.我们欢迎贵公司来函询购各种类型的电器产品。2）Should you be interested
2、(if you are interested in) in supplying(supply goods), we would be more than(very) pleased to enter into(establish) business activities with you.如果贵公司有意供货，我方将十分乐意与贵公司建立贸易联系。3）We are interested in(欢迎) your “Sea Gull” brand womans wrist watches and shall be glad if you should make us an offer(报盘) for
3、1000 pieces with details.我们欲购贵厂海鸥牌女装手表，请报 1000 只详盘。从以上三个句子可以看出， “be interested in”不仅仅表示对某事的一种“兴趣” ，而且还明确的表示做某事的“意向” 。当然，我们并不是说不能将“be interested in”译成“对.感兴趣” ，只是提醒读者，翻译时应根据不同的上下文，恰当措辞。2. Appreciateappreciate 一词在外贸信件中广为应用，其基本意义为 “感激” 。它既可用于主动语态，也可用于被动语态，并且还有相对固定的格式，常用来表示一种委婉的请求。1) We highly appreciate
4、 your effort in pushing the sale of our slippers.appreciate sth.通常事情已经完成承蒙贵方大力推销我方拖鞋，不甚感激。2) We would appreciate(please) your sending us a catalogue of your Rubber Boots together with terms of payment and the largest discount you can allow.appreciate doing 没有完成，委婉的请求。请寄橡胶鞋目录一份，并注明付款条件及最大折扣。3) I woul
5、d very much appreciate it if you could take our suggestion into consideration.若对方能采取我方建议，我方将不甚感激。4) We shall appreciate it if you will forward(please send) the following goods to the above address at your earliest convenience(as soon as possible).appreciate it if/ be appreciated请将下列货品尽快寄至上述地址。5) You
6、r inquiries for all types of electric goods would be appreciated. =be interested in欢迎来函询购各种类型的电器产品。6) Houses in this area have all appreciated since the new road was built.自从新路建成，该区房价扶摇直上。7) Because the company has been making large profits the market value of its shares is appreciating.该公司一直非常盈利，其股
7、票市值正趋上升。3. be subject to1) The treaty is subject to ratification 批准.本条约未经批准无效。(双重否定)2) This contract is binding subject to the fulfillment of the following conditions. 2, 6, 7 一组本合同须满足下列条件方始生效。3) This credit is subject to the Uniform Custom and Practice for commercial Documentary Credit.本信用证以“跟单信用证统
8、一惯例”为准。4) Our prices are subject to fluctuation of the market.报价我方价格得随市价波动而调整。5) Foreign citizens in China are subject to Chinese laws.中国境内的外国公民必须遵守中国法律。6) The contracted goods could be delivered 发货，装运 at any time subject to the availability of shipping space.合同所订货物如有舱位可随时装运。7) The purchaser shall h
9、ave the full power, subject to the provisions hereinafter (in the rest of the document) contained, at any time during the contract 时间状语 to issue instructions to the contractor so as to alter, amend, omit, or add to any of the project services 目的状语.购买方享有充分权利在合同有效期间的任何时候向承包商发出指令，以对任何工程服务项目进行修改、补充、删减或增
10、加，但在行使该权利的同时，购买方必须遵守本章下述条款。8) Promotion is automatic subject to passing internal examination.动名词只有通过内部考核，员工可自动升迁。重心在后。9) This kind of glassware is subject to breakage likely to be broken during transit.这种玻璃器皿在运输途中易受破损。10) The schedule is subject to change without notice. 通知，运输本时间表可随时更改，不另行通知。4. resp
11、onsibility/responsible for/; liability/ liable for上面这组词，如译成汉语，都可译成“对负责” ，或“责任”，但如果是汉译英的话，就可能造成混乱了。事实上，这两个词（组）是有区别的，它们意思相近，但侧重点不同。根据 Collins Business English Dictionary 的释义， “responsible”有两个基本含义：一是“in charge of（对负责，即享有权威，享有安排和督促有关事宜进行的职责） ”,比如：You will be responsible for the conduct of the new sales
12、campaign. (这次促销由你负责)二是“capable of being blamed（可能引咎受罚或遭到谴责） ”，比如： If anything goes wrong, you will be held responsible.(事情如有差错，将由你负责 )而“liable”则是指“being legally responsible for loss, damage, debts, etc.(对丢失、损坏、债务等承担法律上的责任)”。由此看来， “responsible”一词适应的范围更大，并侧重“道义” 上的责任；而 “liable”则强调与“loss, damage, debts
13、 ”等有关的“法律 ”责任，换言之，事情如有差错，当事人须负赔偿或刑事责任。1) Party A shall be responsible for the completeness, correctness and legibility of the product design drawings and manufacturing Technical Documentation sent to Party B. 道义上的甲方对提供给乙方的产品设计图纸和制造技术资料的完整性，正确性和清晰性负责。2) She is responsible for making sure orders are p
14、rocessed 加工生产订单上的货物 on time.她负责安排生产，以确保如期完成订单。3) The carrier 主 shall not be liable for 谓 loss or damage 宾 arising or resulting from defects not discoverable though the carrier has exercised due diligence 审慎调查 as aforesaid(said before 前款规定，或前面所讲的). 难承运人对前款规定已经审慎检查(谨慎处理)后仍不能发现的由货物本身缺陷所造成的货物的灭失或损坏免除责任。
15、4) This company shall be liable for total or partial loss of the insured goods caused in the course of transit by natural calamities- heavy weather, lightening, floating ice, seaquake, earthquake, flood, etc, or by accidents-grounding, stranding, sinking, collision or derailment of the carrying conv
16、eyance, fire, explosion and falling of entire package or packages of the insured goods into sea during loading or discharge, etc本公司负责赔偿被保险货物在运输途中由于遭受暴风、雷电、流冰、海啸、地震、洪水等自然灾害或由于运输工具搁浅、触礁、沉没、碰撞、出轨、失火和爆炸以及在装卸过程中整件货物落海等以外事故而造成的全部或部分损失。5) Parents or guardians may avoid liability for their childrens crimes
17、if they can satisfy the court that they have done everything they can to prevent it.中心孩子的父母或监护人，只要能向法庭证明，他们已采取一切必要措施来防止其孩子或被监护人犯罪，可免除承担其孩子或被监护人犯罪的法律责任。6) Banks assumes no liability or responsibility 不管是道义上的还是法律上的，概不负责 for consequences arising out of the interruption of their business by Acts of God,
18、 riots 暴动, civil commotions 骚乱, insurrections 叛乱, wars or any other causes beyond their control, or by any strikes or lockouts 关厂.银行对天灾、暴动、骚乱、叛乱、战争或本身无法控制的其它原因，或任何的罢工或关厂而中断营业所引起的后果，概不负责。5. abide by/ comply with; According to 根据某人的意见，根据报告时不和其他两个短语连用/ in line with/ in accordance with(正式)表示“根据（依照）合同、规定
19、、贸易惯例”等时，可以通用，但 according to 较口语化， “in line with”和“ in accordance with”为书面语体，并且后者最为正式。以上两组词在涉外合同中广为使用，也特别容易弄混。 “abide by”和“comply with”都可译为“遵守”，但前者的主语一般时人，后者的主语为事或物。试比较如下：1) All the personnel of the Joint Venture Company shall abide by the laws and decrees in the project-host country and respect the
20、 local customs and traditions.合营公司全体员工都应遵守项目所在国的法律法令，尊重当地的风俗和习惯。2) All the activities of both parties shall comply with the provisions of laws, decrees and pertinent regulations in the project-host country.双方(的一切活动) 都应遵守项目国的法律、法令和有关条例规定。3) The joint ventures shall, in line with(more formal) related
21、provisions of Chinese laws, commission accountants registered in China to audit and check their financial accounts.合作企业应当按照中国法律有关规定聘任中国注册会计师进行审计。4) The Detailed Rules are formulated in accordance with the provisions of Article 3 of the Law of the Peoples Republic of China on Wholly Foreign-Owned Ent
22、erprises. 根据中华人民共和国外资企业法第 3 条规定，制定本实施细则。5) According to a market research, the prices for petrochemicals during the first half of next year are expected to pick up. 根据某人的意见，根据. 报告，不能与 in accordance with 或 in line with 通用根据市场调查，明年上半年石油化工产品的价格可望回升。6. against “against”是个多义词，在外贸英语中也广为使用，翻译时应根据上下文正确选择词义。
23、表示“防止.”1) We wish to ensure the following consignment against all risks(投保术语) for the sum of U.S.3600.我们要为下列货物按 3600 美元保额投保综合险。表示“根据/凭” ， “以为条件”2）documents against payment 付款交单3) documents against acceptance 承兑交单以上两例均是轨迹贸易的常用术语。 “付款交单” 系指便付款边交提单及货运单据的一种结算方式。进口商在国外所定货物运抵口岸时，经银行通知，于汇票到期日或到期以前，见票面金额付清，
24、银行将提单及其他单据（包括发票、保险单、磅码单等）交给进口商凭以提货。 “承兑交单 ”系指先交提单及货运单据后付款的一种结算方式。进口商在国外所订货物运抵口岸时，将为到期汇票承兑后，即可现象银行取得提单及其他单据（包括发票、保险单、磅码单等） ，凭以取货，银行于到期日在行收款。4) The Bank of China, London can open an L/C in RMB for you against our sales confirmation.伦敦中国银行，可凭我方销售确认书开立人民币信用证。表示“违反”5) It is against the contractual stipul
25、ations that you failed to establish the covering L/C 30 days before the time of shipment.贵方未在交货前 30 天开立有关的信用证，这是违反合同规定的。 表示“对.不利，反对”6）In case you should fail to effect delivery in April, we will have to lodge a claim against you for the loss and reserve the right to cancel the contract.如果你们 4 月份尚不能交
26、货，我方只好向你方提出索赔，并保留取消合同的权利。表示“与.比较/对比”7）Against the invoice weight the consignment was found short of 1 350kg.与发票重量相比，货物短重 1350 公斤。7. offer, quote/quotation, bid“offer”, “quote/quotation”和“bid” 在外贸业务中有它们各自的含义和用法，须加以区别。“offer”译为“报盘”或“ 发盘” ，是外贸义务中的一个环节，通常是指卖方向对方提出贸易成交条件，如货名、数量、规格、价格、船期、效期。“offer”既可作名词，也
27、可作动词。作名词时，又可分为实盘/ 确盘（firm offer）和虚盘（non-form offer） 。实盘须附有效期，如 firm for 5 days.虚盘须附有条件，如 subject to our final confirmation( 以我方最后确认为准)；subject to our prior sale(货未售出为有效)。一切报盘如果规定了效期而未附加任何条件，即使无“firm”字样，也默认为实盘。除实盘和虚盘外，外贸业务中还有搭配报盘，即“combined offer （或称联盘，指两种以上的商品） ”和买方的还盘，即“Counter-offer”。“offer”经常与下列动
28、词搭配，以表示报盘的各个方面：to make/forward an offer 发盘to accept an offer 接收报盘to decline an offer 谢绝报盘to entertain an offer 考虑是否接受报盘to extend an offer 延长报盘to renew an offer 恢复报盘to withdraw an offer 撤回报盘1) Please make us an offer C.I.F. London for 20metric tons peanut.请报 20 公吨花生伦敦到岸价实盘。“quote”用作动词，其后可接双宾语。做“报价”解时
29、，其直接宾语只能是“price”或是与“price”相关的价格术语，如“FOB”， “C&F”等，或者两者同时出现。例如：2) Please quote (us) your lowest price CIF London for walnut.请报我方胡桃最低伦敦到岸价。3) Please send us your lowest quotation CIF London for walnut.请报我方胡桃最低伦敦到岸价。4) “bid”译作“递盘递价” ，与“offer” 相对，系指买方的主动出价，买方还价时说“counterbid” 或“conter-offer”。 “bid”既可用作名词，
30、也可用作动词。作动词时，其句型与“quote”相似。另外“bid”系不规则动词，其过去时和过去分词均为“bid”，词形不变。4) As your prices were too high, we made a counter-bid at RMB￥4 000per ton.由于你方价格太高，现还价每吨人民币 4000 元。8.Shall 在英文法律文件中， “shall”是个最常用的词语之一，其主语为第三人称。 “shall”不是表示“将来”，而是表示法律权利或义务，不如此则须承担违反法律的后果，其含义相当于“must”，但不用 “must”，而改用 “shall”。无独有偶，在中文法律文件中
31、， “应”是个最常用的字之一，也属强制性范畴，其含义相当于“须” ，但多用 “应”，而少用“ 须”。由此，在英汉互译时就产生一些问题。英译汉时， “shall”按理说该译成 “应”，但在汉语中， “应”既可理解为“ 必须”（即“shall”的正解) ,又可理解为 “应当”（即一般义务或道义上的义务） 。此外，英语中的“should”又该怎么翻译呢？有人提议，将“shall” 译成“ 应”,而把“should”译成“应当” ，以示区别。但在汉语词典里， “应 ”与“应当”恐怕并无如此区别，因此，这样翻译也就没有根据了。我们认为积极的办法不如将“should”译成“ 应当”或 “应该”，而把“sh
32、all”尽可能的译成“须” ，坚持下去，也许可以慢慢改掉中文法律文字中混用“应” 与“须”的陋习。1) The payment of the aforesaid expenses shall be effected against presentation of original vouchers after being checked.上述有关费用均须凭原始单据支付。2) 合营公司 应 按贷款协议的规定偿还到期 应 偿还的借款本金。The Joint Venture Company shall repay the principal on loans that fall due and sh
33、ould be paid in accordance with the provisions of the loan agreement.3) 合作企业的清算事宜，依照国家有关法律、行政法规及合作企业合同、章程的规定办理。The liquidation of the Joint Venture shall be handled in accordance with related State laws and administrative regulations and rules as well as the ventures contract and the articles of the
34、 association.9.商业书信范例（1）Dear Ward: As you know, the National Association of School Superintendents is holding its annual convention at the Ambassador Hotel in Atlantic City (I know you always have an exhibits at these conventions). We are assembling products for a kit to be given to everyone attendi
35、ng. Last year you supplied 500 ballpoint pens and 500 pocket calendars.Will you do the same this year? Our members prize these kits each year and look forward on those who furnish the articles. Please send the materials to me at the Ambassador Hotel in Atlantic City， Zip code 08402. Thanks a lot！ Sincerely,
