合同常用虚词.doc

英文合同中常见虚词 2009-09-03 17:06 星期四(出自王辉著英文合同导读) I dont care what their intention was. I only want to know what the words mean. A word is not a crystal, transparent and unchanged, it is the skin of a living thought and may vary greatly in color and content according to the circumstances and the time in which it is used.-Towne v. Eisner, 245 U.S.418, 425(1918)(Holmes, J.)我并不在意他们的意图是什么，我只是想知道文字的意思。文字不是水晶般通明一成不变，而是活生生思想的外衣，会因使用的场合和时间在色彩和内容上产生巨大的变化。霍尔姆斯法官（美国）英文合同中常见的用词和句型有其相对固定的含义和用法，不仅可以帮助准确理解掌握合同条款的含义，而且这些成熟的表达方式可以为提高、完善草拟和翻译合同所借鉴，达到事半功倍的效果。第一节 合同常用词(Usual Wording)当大量接触英文合同，就会发现英文合同中有些词或短语出现的频率非常高，往往影响或决定了对合同的准确理解，下面就分门别类从常见实词和常见虚词两个方面进行具体介绍：一、英文合同常用虚词（Usual Function Words）1 Here/there/where+介词构成的古体词基本规则：Here代表this，there代表that，where代表which或what即here/there/where+介词=介词+this/that/which or whatl Hereby: by means of; by reason of this.特此，由此，兹等意。例句：The Buyer hereby orders from the Seller the undermentioned goods subject to the following conditions:买方向卖方订购下列商品，条件如下：l Herein：in this。此中，于此。例句：The minimum royalty herein specified shall be paid by Party B to Party A. 在此规定的最低特许权使用费应由乙方付给甲方。l Hereinafter: later in the same Contract. 以下，在下文。通常与 to be referred to as, referred as, called 连用。例句：This Agreement is made and concluded on _, (date)_(year), by and between _(hereinafter called Party A) on the one hand and _(hereinafter called Party B) on the other hand. 本协议书于_年_月_日由_（以下简称甲方）为一方，与_(以下简称乙方)为另一方签订。l Hereof：of this。关于此点，在本文件中。Hereunder：under this. 本文件规定。例句：Both parties agree to attempt to resolve all disputes between the parties with respect to the application or interpretation of any term hereof of transaction hereunder, through amicable negotiation.合同双方就本合同规定交易任一条款的适用和解释所产生的所有争议同意力求通过友好协商予以解决。l Hereto：to this.本文件的。Thereof：of that.它的，其。Thereto：to that 与之，向那里。例句：“Licensed Products” means the devices and products described in Schedule 1 annexed hereto together with all improvement and modification thereof or development with respect thereto. “特许产品”系指在本协议附件1中所述的装置和产品，及其全部改进和修改的产品和与之相关的产品。l Herewith：with this.与此，附此。Thereby：by that means.因此，由此，从而例句：In any one or more of the provisions contained in this Contract or any document executed in connection herewith shall be invalid of unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law, the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not in any way be affected thereby.如果根据现行法律，本合同及与此有关文件中有一项或多项条款被视为无效或不能履行，本合同其余条款的效力和履行将不因此受影响。l Thereafter: after that，afterwards.此后。例句：The Contract for the contractual joint venture shall continue from a period o two years thereafter.本合作经营企业合同，此后应持续有效两年。l Therein: in that; in that particular context; in that respect.在那里；在那点上；在那方面。例句：The Leased Premises are deemed to be fit for occupation when the building therein is substantially completed.当在那里的建筑物实质完成时，该租赁房屋才认为适合占有居住。l Therewith：with that.以此；此外。例句：The Employer shall indemnify and save harmless the Contractor against and from the same and against and from all claims, proceedings, damages, costs, charges and expenses whatsoever arising there out or in connection therewith.业主应赔偿所有索赔、诉讼、损害赔偿、支出、花费、费用，不论因本合同产生或与其相关，并保证承包人免于承担上述责任。l Whereby: by the agreement; by the following terms and conditions, etc. 凭此协议，凭此条款等。例句：This Agreement is made and concluded by and between AA Corporation (hereinafter referred to as Party A) and BB Company (hereinafter referred to as Party B) whereby the Parties hereto agree to enter into the compensation trade under the terms and conditions set forth below: 本协议由AA公司（以下简称甲方）和BB公司（以下简称乙方）签订。双方同意按下列条款进行补偿贸易。（本句中省略未译）2 WITNESSETH, Whereas, Now Therefore, NOW THESE PRESENTS WITNESS, Know All Men by these presents，In witness Whereof, In Testimony Whereof, Undersigned.WITHNESSETH, Whereas, Now Therefore用于英文合同前言部分，In witness Whereof用于合同结尾证明部分，在第二章篇章结构特点中已有涉及，恕不赘述。l In Testimony Whereof: in Witness Whereof.以此为证，特立此证。例句：In Testimony Whereof we have hereto signed this Document on _ (date) accepted on _ (date).我方于_年_月_日签署本文件，并于_年_月_日接受该文件，特此为证。l NOW THESE PRESENTS WITNESS: 兹特立约为据, 本句话也是用于WHEREAS条款之后引出具体协议事项。例句：NOW THESE PRESENTS WITNESS that it is hereby agreed between the parties hereto as follows: 兹特立约为据，并由订约双方协议如下：l KNOW ALL MEN by these presents:根据本文件，特此宣布。（通常用于前言部分）例句：KNOW ALL MEN by these presents that we_(banks name)having our registered office at _ (hereinafter called “the Bank”) will be bound unto _(the Owners name)(hereinafter called “the Owner”) in the sum of _ for payment well and truly to be made to the said Owner, the Bank will bind itself, its successors and better assignee by these presents.根据本文件，兹宣布，我行，（银行名称），其注册地点在（以下简称本银行）向（业主名称）（以下简称本业主）立约担保支付（金额数）的保证金。本保证书对本银行及其继受人和受让人均具有约束力。l Undersigned:法律文件末尾的签名者,前面加定冠词the,是指文件签署者的自称。例句：The undersigned Seller and Buyer have agreed to close the following transaction in accordance with the terms and conditions stipulated as follows:兹经签约的买卖双方同意，按下列条款，达成这笔交易。3 Notwithstanding: in spite of, despite. 即使，尽管。例1：Notwithstanding any other provisions to the contrary herein, insurance coverage and limits shall be subject to approval of all the parties.即使有与本合同相悖的规定，保险范围和责任限制应以合同各方同意为准。例2：Notwithstanding Article 2.2, the parties may agree to extend the Expiration date to such date as is reasonable in the circumstances if any of the conditions precedent referred to in Article 2.1 is not satisfied or waived on or before the Expiration Date, any such agreement or waiver to be in writing. 尽管有本合同第二条第二款规定，如上述第二条第一款规定的先决条件在合同期满日之前既未实现又未放弃，合同各方亦可根据具体情况，约定合理延长合同的期满日。 4 As 合同英语中as出现的频率极高，而且用法灵活多变，是典型的自由人。在某种意义上讲，as使用的熟练程度可以衡量合同英语的造诣。具体用法和含义见以下实例：l As 放在代表规定的provide，stipulate，set forth，prescribe等词的过去分词前，含义为“依照某某规定”。例1：For purpose of this, Capital Account shall be adjusted hypothetically as provided for in Section 4.6 herein.基于此，应依照本合同第四条第六款调整资金账户。例2：based on their respective Venture interests as set forth in Section 5.2 hereof. 基于本合同第五条第二款规定的各方在合资公司中的权益。l 另有Except as otherwise provided结构，表示“除非本文/某条款另有规定”。例句：Except as otherwise provided herein, all notices or demands sent by registered airmail shall be deemed received 8 days after they have been sent and notices or demands sent by telex shall be deemed received at the time of the dispatch thereof.除非本合同另有规定，所有通知和请求以航空挂号信寄出则发出后8日应视为送达收悉，以电传方式发出则在发送时视为收悉。l As构成as the case may be（视具体情况而定）， as the case may require（视具体要求而定）和 as the Venturers may determine等短语。例句：The Venture may relocate its office from time to time or have additional offices as the Venturers may determine.该合资公司视投资者决策，可随时迁址或增添营业场所。l As构成as of the date of _ (date) 短语是英语合同中表示“自某年某月某日起”最正式的表达。例句：In witness whereof, the parties have caused this instrument to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written. 合同双方签订本文件，该文件自以上书就日期即时生效，特此为证。l As还用在as soon as practical短语中，意义用法相当于as soon as possible.例句：During the Employment Period, the Company agrees that it shall recommend to the Board the election of the Employee as a Director of the Company on the Commencement Date or as soon as practical thereafter. 本公司同意在聘用期间，应自本协议开始或其后尽早的时间向董事会推选受聘方为本公司董事。As与 such连用是英文合同中一大特色，参看本书第二章第三节部分，在此不在赘述。5. foregoing, aforesaid, the said, aforementioned, above-mentioned, in questionl Foregoing, aforesaid, the said, aforementioned, above-mentioned一族，一般放在名词前作限定，意为“前述的”或“上述的”，为避免重复已经提到的姓名或名称。例1：The Bank shall give prompt written or telex notice to the Borrower of the Interest Rate in effect from time to time in accordance with the foregoing sentence.本银行将根据前述的句子以书面或电传形式随时及时通知借款方生效的利率。例2：The contract shall be written in Chinese and in _. Both language versions are equally authentic. In the event of any discrepancy between the two aforementioned versions, the Chinese version shall prevail.本合同应以中文和_文书就，具同等法律效力。前述两种文本如有歧异，以中文文本为准。l In question: under consideration; being talk about.通常表示“在考虑或讨论中的”某件事或某个问题，可译为“这”或“该”问题。例句：All prices to be paid by the Buyer under its obligations of the buyback/counter-purchase Contract shall be the world market prices taking into account the other delivery terms for the goods in question.买方根据返销或回购货物合同的义务所支付的价格应为世界市场价格，结合考虑该货物的其他交货条件。6. follows, as below, the following这一族都表示“下列”，一般放在动词后，而the following作为“下列”在英文合同中用的较少。这样的例子俯手皆是，恐怕每个英文合同都少不了的。NOW THEREFORE, the parties hereby covenant and agree as follows;为此，双方达成契约，约定如下：NOW THEREFORE, it is hereby agreed as below.为此，双方约定如下：Now therefore, in consideration of the premises and covenants described hereinafter, Party A and Party B agree as follows:兹以上述各点和契约所载条款为约因，订约双方协议如下：7. according to, under, subject to, in accordance with, as per, as provided in, pursuant to, in compliance with这一族都表示“依照，根据”合同的约定或者法律的规定。其中尤以“according to”最不正式，自然用的最少了，而“in accordance with”最为常见。例如：In case no settlement can be reached, the case may then be submitted for arbitration to China International Economic And Trade Arbitration Commission in accordance with the provisional Rules of Procedures promulgated by the said Arbitration Commission.如未能达成和解，该案件可提交中国国际贸易仲裁委员会根据该仲裁委员会颁布的仲裁程序暂行规定进行仲裁。又如：A Photostat copy of the Acceptance Certificate of the Contract Plant signed by the representatives of both parties as per Chapter 9 of the present Contract.该合同设备的验收证书的影印副本由双方代表按照该合同第九章签收。再如：Both Parties shall each contribute their paid in capital in compliance with the items specified in the appendix to the Contract.合同双方应按照本合同附件中载明的项目进行出资。8. Including but not limited to与including, without limitation以及including by way of illustration but not limitation英文合同表达“包括但不限于”时，就会用到这几个短语。例如：The time for the performance of the Sellers obligations set forth in this Contract shall be automatically extended for a period equal to the duration of any nonperformance arising directly or indirectly from Force Majeure events including but not limited to fire, flood, earthquake, typhoon, natural catastrophe, and all other contingencies and circumstances whatsoever beyond the Sellers reasonable control preventing, hindering or interfering with the performance thereof.本合同规定卖方履行义务的时间应自动延长等同于由于直接或间接由于不可抗力事件导致的不能履行的期间。不可抗力事件包括但不限于火灾、洪水、地震、台风、自然灾害和卖方无论怎样也无法合理控制的阻止、妨碍、干扰本合同履行的其他风险和情形。9. prior to, no later than, on or before，on and afterprior to, on or before，no later than, on or after常用在英文合同中限定日期，prior to表示“某日之前，提前多少日”。on or before, no(not) later than,表示“不迟于”，On and after表示“从某日起”。例如：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。例如：Our terms are cash within three months, i.e. on or before May 1. 我公司的条件是，3个月内，即不得晚于5月1日，支付现金。例如： Party B shall ship the goods within one month of the date of signing this Contract, i.e. not later than December.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。例如：10-15 days prior to the date of shipment, the Buyer shall inform the Seller by cable or telex of the contract number, name of vessel, ETA of vessel, quantity to be loaded and the name of shipping agent, so as to enable the Seller to contact the shipping agent direct and arrange the shipment of the goods.装运前10天到15天，买方应以电报或电传方式通知卖方合同编号、装运船名，预计到达时间，装载数量和承运代理商名称，以便能使卖方直接联系承运代理商安排货物装运。此外，为限定时间更为明确，还常用inclusive、including和included，来限定含当日在内的时间。例如： This credit expires till January1 (inclusive) for negotiation in Beijing. (or:This credit expires till and including January1 for negotiation in Beijing.) 本证在北京议付，有效期至1月1日。如果不包括1月1日在内，则为till and not including January 1。10Without prejudice toWithout prejudice to,常用于英文合同中，表示在“不损害某规定/情况下”。例如：The Buyer shall nevertheless have the right to cancel in part or in whole of the contract without prejudice to the Buyers right to claim compensations.不妨害买方索赔权，买方仍有权取消合同的部分或全部。11Attributable to, due to, owing to, by virtue of, in view of, because