商务合同属于法律语篇，法律语篇重在“规约”，所以译文的语言必须符合文本的类型特征和实际意义，同时也必须着眼于特定读者对象的反应。

在我国的商务贸易业务中，合同一般都采用中英两种语言文字写成，而且两种文本具有同等的法律效力。一般认为，商务合同的翻译需要注意以下四点：

1.忠于原文。即译文要忠实再现原文的涵义，不能有任何的违反和疏漏，尤其对合同的前文（preamble），及本文（body）中的具体条款（specific conditions）和有效期限（duration）的翻译要特别慎重！具体来讲，对于价格条款、数量、单价等重要数据万万不可以译错，否则很可能会因小的疏错而造成巨大的经济损失。

2.符合国际贸易惯例。一个合同的当事人对于对方国家的习惯解释，往往不甚了解，常会引起当事人之间的误解、争议和诉讼。为此，一些国际组织制定了在国际上已被广泛采用的规则，形成了一般的国际贸易惯例，最典型的就是贸易术语。而英语合同的格式、条款、用词和符号等也都应该按照该行业的国际贸易惯例翻译，力争做到对合同的翻译符合国际贸易惯例。

3.尽量使用规范的法律用语。由于依法成立的合同是具有法律约束力的文件，起草合同的业务人士习惯使用法律术语，以显示其准确、规范、威严的特色。因此，翻译过程中尽量使用确切的法律名词、术语和用词，是译文准确而不含糊，严谨而无漏洞。例如对下句的翻译：

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

如一方想出售或转让其所投资的全部或一部分，另一方应有优先购买权。

（assign和preemptive都是法律用语）

4.英文合同汉译过程中，最好采用半文半白（half literary and half vernacular）。这样，译文容易读懂的同时，又精简有力。

商务合同翻译准则主要归纳为三点：准确、规范、通顺。

由于商务合同关系到国际贸易中签合同的双方的经济利益，并且它有法律效力。所以，商务合同的翻译就要求准确和严谨。译文一定要忠实于原文，不能随意添加或者削减内容。尤其对于商务术语和法律专业术语一定要谨慎翻译，不能够曲解文意，要避免歧义。

例如，“瑕疵”“救济”“不可抗力”“管辖”“损毁”“灭失”等的表达就分别为“defect”“remedy”“force majuere/Act of God”“jurisdiction”“damage and/or loss”。“赔偿”用“indemnities”，而不用“compensation”；“因为”多用“by virtue of”，远远多于“due to”，一般也不用“because of”；“关于”常用“as regards”，“concerning”或“relating to”，而不会用“about”；“在……之前”一般用“prior to”，而不用“before”；“愿意做”用“intend to do”或“desire to do”，而不用“want to do”或“wish to do”；“理解合同”用“construe a contract”或“comprehend a contract”，而不用“understand a contract”；“shipping advice”与“shipping instructions”不同，“shipping advice”是“装运通知”，是由出口商（卖主）发给进口商（买主）的，而“shipping instructions”则是“装运须知”，是进口商（买主）发给出口商（卖主）的；“exclusive territory”指“独占区域”，“exclusive contract”译为“专销合同”，表示“An agreement between manufacturer and retailer that prohibits the retailer from carrying the product lines of firms to firms that are the rivals of the manufacturer.”等。

1.词语准确

词语是构成合同文件最基本的单位，对合同文件中的一些主要词语的准确无误的翻译，是翻译合同文件的最基础的工作。例如，在当前的国际货物买卖合同中，当事人可以通过信件、数据电文等形式达成协议，这类合同的成立，一般要签订一份“确认书”。在“确认书”中首先规定一条：

兹经买卖双方同意按下列条款成交。

The undersigned Sellers and Buyers have agree to close the following transactions according to the terms and conditions stipulated below.

这个译文中的“条款”一词应译为the terms and conditions，短语中的conditions不能漏掉，因为一个合同条款的达成经常包含着若干条件。再如：

By confirmed, irrevocable L/C without recourse in favor of COSCO for the total value of the contracted goods in pounds sterling, payable at sight against presentation of shipping documents to the Bank of China in the port of loading.

保兑的不可取消的无追索权的以中国远洋运输公司为受益人的信用证，合同货物全部货款为英镑，凭即期汇票并附运输单据向装运港的中国银行议付。

原译文中“irrevocable L/C”是指“A Letter of Credit which cannot be altered or cancelled once it has been negotiated between the buyer and his bank.”，其规范译文应为：“不可撤销信用证”。再举个例子：

Negotiating bank must ensure that advising bank charges are recovered from beneficiary otherwise negotiating bank will be responsible for the advising charges.

议付行应当保证通知行的费用能够从受益人那里收回，否则，议付行应承担该通知的费用。

根据用语规范文中的“negotiating bank”翻译为“议付行”，“advising bank”翻译为“通知行”。

2.译文完整

合同文件的翻译一定要保持译文的完整性，决不能只求保持原文与译文在词量上的对等。

从4月1日起到10月20日止这一期间内交货，但以买方信用证在3月20日前到达卖方为限。

Shipment during the period beginning on April 1 and ending on Oct.20 subject to Buyer’s Letter of Credit reaching Seller before Mar.20.

以上条款中的交货期间应包括4月1日和10月20日这两天，所以，应补译both dates inclusive；另外，买方信用证到达日期也包括3月20日这一天，因此，Mar.20之前的介词用before外还应增加on，译成Subject to Buyer’s Letter of Credit reaching Seller on and before Mar.20。

3.专业术语准确

1）The leading partner submits a copy of the short term cash flow which covers the period from September 1997 to February 1998.Mr.Marchesini highlights the main items of the cash flow which are the Endowment fund and the advance payment as far as the receipt is concerned and the down payment for TBMs and plants purchase of fixed assets and the advance payment to subcontractors for the expenditures.

要译好这段文字关键就在于要熟练掌握这里面出现的几个财经方面的专业术语即cash flow（资金流动、现金流量、现金流转）；endowment finch（留本基金、捐赠基金）advance payment（预付款）；receipt（收款、收据、收入）；down payment（分期付款、定金）；fixed asset（固定资产）；expenditure（支出费用、支出额、消费额）。

主要方递交了一份从1997年9月到1998年2月的短期现金流量表。马切西尼先生强调指出：主要的现金流就收入款项而言有集资款和预付款就支出款项而言有TBM（隧洞掘进机）设备定金固定资产购置费和分包商预付款。

2）如因违反合同而造成损失的应由违反合同的一方承担经济责任。

In case of losses caused by a breach of contract the financial responsibility shall be borne by the party who has breached the contract.

经济责任主要指合同当事人在违反合同时应承担的违约责任，主要形式有赔偿损失、支付违约金、支付迟延、支付金额的利息等。所以经济责任应译为financial responsibility而不应满足字面上的一致译为economic responsibility。

3）买方自1997年7 月1 日起分三年偿付卖方全部设备的总金额。

The buyers shall reimburse the sellers the total value of the entire equipment by installments in three years stating from July 1st 1997.

在补偿贸易合同中，偿付指的是买方对卖方先行垫付的设备款项进行偿还。应译为reimburse，如果译为settle 则失去了偿还的意思。

4.风格规范

商务合同英语具有独特的实用语体特征和文体风格。翻译时应顺应其需要按照一定程度将其内容表达形式和体例风格与原文直接对应，严密切合做到得体合适。

1） Neither of the parities hereto(to the contract)shall at any time during the continuance hereof(of this contract)deal with any of the shares of the Joint Venture Company owned by the said party whether by sale pledge or otherwise in any manner inconsistent with the coming out of its obligations hereunder(under this contract).

本合同存续期间，任一方均不得以出售、抵押或任何与本合同项下义务不一致的方式处理该方所有的合资公司股份。

在此文中hereto， hereof， hereunder 古词的使用替代了一些介词短语，避免了某些词语的重复，使其正式色彩很浓，具有庄重、严肃法律文本风格。

2）When the failure of the either party to fulfill its contractual obligations in time brings about loss to the other on account of causes other than force majeure the defaulter shall be datable to pay the penalty.

凡因不可抗力以外的原因，一方未能按时履约而招致对方损失时，未能按时履约方应付罚金。

原文中shall 在此不是表示将来时而是表示法律用语的语言形式。再如：

3）合作企业期满或者提前终止，应当向工商行政管理机关和税务机关办理注销登记手续。

A contractual joint venture shall, upon the expiration or termination in advance of its term, cancel its registration with administrative authorities for industry and commerce and the tax authorities.

5.通顺

合同翻译除风格的规范化外，还要做到通顺。如：(www.daowen.com)

During the period from the date of effectiveness to the termination of the Contract.

自本合同生效之日至终止期间。

不要翻译成“在合同生效之日起到合同终止日的期间内”，而应该为“本合同有效期间”。

下面是一个简单Sales Contract（销售合同）的译本：

Sales Contract

销售合同

Original

正本

Buyer:

买方：

This contract is made by and between the Buyers and the Sellers, whereby the Buyers agree to buy and the Sellers agree to sell the under-mentioned commodity according to the terms and conditions stipulated below:

本合同由买卖双方拟定签署，双方愿根据如下的条款条件，同意购销下列商品：

Port of Shipment:　　　　　　Port of Destination:

装运口岸：　　　　　　　　　　目的地：

Time of Shipment:

装运期限：

Insurance:To be covered by the Sellers for 110% of the invoice value against All Risks and War Risk.

保险：由卖方按发票金额110%投保一切险和战争险。

Terms of Payment:

By 100% confirmed, irrevocable, transferable, and divisible Letter of Credit in favour of the Sellers payable at sight against Presentation of shipping documents in China, with partial shipments and transshipment allowed.The covering Letter of Credit must reach the Sellers xxx days before the contracted month of shipment and remain valid in the above loading port until the 15thday after shipment, failing which the Sellers reserve the right to cancel the contract without further notice and to claim against the Buyers for any loss resulting therefrom.

付款条件：

凭全额发票金额的、保兑的、不可撤销的、可转让的、可分割的即期信用证在中国见单付款。信用证以卖方为受益人，并允许分批装运和转船，该信用证必须在装运月××天前开到卖方，并在装船后在上述装运港继续有效15天。否则卖方无须通知即可有权取消本销售合同，并向买方索赔因此而发生的一切损失。

Documents:

The Sellers shall present to the negotiating bank, Clean On Board Bill of Loading, Invoice, Quality Certificate by the China Commodity Inspection Bureau or the Manufacturers, Survey Report on Quantity/Weight issued by the China Commodity Inspection Bureau, and Transferable Insurance Policy or Insurance Certificate when this Contract is made on CIF basis.

单据：

卖方应向议付银行提供已装船清洁提单、发票、中国商品检验局或工厂出具的品质证明、中国商品检验局出具的数/重量鉴定书：如果本合同按CIF条件，应再提供可转让的保险单或保险凭证。

Terms of Shipment:

1.The carrying vessel shall be provided by the Sellers.Partial shipments and transshipment are allowed.

2.After loading is completed, the Sellers shall notify the Buyers by fax of the contract number, name of commodity, quantity, name of the carrying vessel and date of shipment.

装运条件：

1.载运船只由卖方安排，允许分批装运并允许转船。

2.卖方于货物装船后，应将合同号码、品名、数量、船名、装船日期以传真通知买方。

Quality/Quantity Discrepancy and Claim:

In case the quality and/or quantity/weight are found by the Buyers to be not in conformity with the Contract after arrival of the goods at the port of destination, the Buyers may lodge claim with the Sellers supported by survey report issued by an inspection organization agreed upon by both parties, with the exception, however, of those claims for which the insurance company and/or the shipping company are to be held responsible.Claim for quality discrepancy should be filed by the Buyers within 30 days after arrival of the goods at the port of destination, while forquantity/weight discrepancy claim should be filed by the Buyers within l5 days after arrival of the goods at the port of destination.The Sellers shall, within 30 days after receipt of the notification of the claim, send reply to the Buyers

品质与数量、重量的异议与索赔：

货到目的口岸后，买方如发现货物品质及/或数量/质量与合同规定不符，除属于保险公司从/或船公司的责任外，买方可以凭双方同意的检验机构出具的检验证书向卖方提出异议。品质异议须于货到目的口岸之日起 30 天内提出，数量/重量异议须于货到目的口岸之日起15天内提出。卖方应于收到异议后30天内答复买方。

Force Majeure:

In case of Force Majeure, the Sellers shall not be held responsible for late delivery or non-delivery of the goods but shall notify the Buyers at once.The Sellers shall deliver to the Buyers by registered mail, if so requested by the Buyers, a certificate issued by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade or/and competent authorities.

人力不可抗拒：

由于人力不可抗拒事故，使卖方不能在本合同规定期限内交货或者不能交货，卖方不负责任。但卖方必须立即通知买方。如买方提出要求，卖方应以挂号函向买方提供由中国国际贸易促进委员会或有关机构出具的发生事故的证明文件。

Arbitration:

All disputes in connection with this Contract or the execution thereof shall be settled by negotiation between two parties.If no settlement can be reached, the case in dispute shall then be submitted for arbitration in the country of defendant in accordance with the arbitration regulations of the arbitration organization of the defendant country.The decision made by the arbitration organization shall be taken as final and binding upon both parties.The arbitration expenses shall be borne by the losing party unless otherwise awarded by the arbitration organization.

仲裁：

凡因执行本合同或与本合同有关事项所发生的一切争执，应由双方通过友好方式协商解决。如果不能取得协议时，则在被告同家根据被告仲裁机构的仲裁程序规则进行仲裁，仲裁决定是终局的，对双方具有同等的约束力。仲裁费用除非仲裁机构另有决定外，均由败诉一方负担。

Remarks:

备注：

Sellers:　　　　　　　　　Buyers:

卖方：　　　　　　　　　　买方：