容易誤解的外貿詞語
看商業信函的時候有沒有疑惑過比如confirm明明是"確認"嘛,什麼時候成了"保兌"了英語中的一詞多義常常讓人一頭霧水,商務英語中更是如此。接下來,小編給大家準備了,歡迎大家參考與借鑑。
1. confirm
例一:
We'd like to inform you that our counter sample will be sent to you by DHL by the end of this week. Please confirm it ASAP so that we can start mass production.
很高興通知您,我們的回樣將於本週末用特快專遞給您。請儘快確認,以便我們開始大批生產。
例二:
Payment will be made by a 100% confirmed, irrevocable Letter of Credit, available by sight draft。
付款方式為 100% 即期,保兌,不可撤消信用證。
註解:在第一個句子中,confirm 的意思是"確認"。在第二個句子中,confirmed L/C 應翻譯為"保兌信用證",即指一家銀行所開的由另一家銀行保證兌付的一種銀行信用證。
2. negotiable
例一:
Part-time barman required. Hours and pay negotiable.
招聘兼職酒吧侍者,工作時間和薪水面議。
例二:
This Bill of Lading is issued in negotiable form, so it shall constitute title to the goods and the holder1, by endorsement3 of this B/L.
所簽發的提單為可轉讓的。故只要在提單上背書,便確定了貨物和持票人的所有權。
註解:在第一句話中,negotiable 的意思是"可商議的";在第二句話中的意思則是可轉讓的"。"可轉讓提單" 經過背書後即可將所有權轉讓給他人。值得注意的是,negotiating bank 則是議付銀行,即購買或貼現匯票的銀行。
3. endorse2
例一:
Our products have been endorsed4 by the National Quality Inspection5 Association.
我們的產品為全國質量檢查協會推薦產品。
例二:
Drafts must be accompanied by full set original on board marine6 bill of lading made to order,endorsed in blank, marked right, prepaid.
匯票必須附有全套印有"貨物收訖"字樣的正本海運提單,憑指示、空白背書,並寫明"運費已付"。
註解: 在第一個句子中,endorse指用過某種產品後感到滿意,並通過媒體介紹給公眾。而第二句中的endorsed in blank是指背書人endorser 只在票據背面簽上自己的名字,而不註明特定的被背書人endorsee。
4. average
例一:
If a particular cargo7 is partially8 damaged, the damage is called particular average.
如果某批貨是部分受損我們稱之為"單獨海損"。
例二:
It's obvious that the products are below average quality.
很明顯,這批產品的品質是中下水平。
註解:在第一個句子中,particular average 意思是"單獨海損",是指在保險業中由於海上事故所導致的部分損失。第二個句子中average是指"平均的"。
5. tender
例一:
Under the CIF, it is the seller's obligation to tender the relative documents to the buyer to enable him to deliver the goods.
在 CIF 價格術語項下的責任是向買方遞交有關單證,使其能在貨物到達後提取貨物。
例二:
He became as happy as if his tender for building a mansion9 had been accepted.
他欣喜若狂,好象他承辦大廈築的投標被接受了。
註解: 商務英語中的重要條款用詞非常正規,第一句話中,tender 是用作動詞,相當於 give。而在第二句中,tender 是用作名詞,意思是"投標"。
擴充套件:價格談判中的英語技巧
一It is a condition of this letter that the name of this Bank will not be disclosed in the event of our report being passed on to your clients.
譯文:本函有一個條件,即在把我們的報告轉交你們的客戶時,請勿洩露本行的名稱。
這段話是出自銀行對某項諮詢的回覆信函。此類覆信一般包括三部分:
1陳述實事;
2表示意見;
3提醒對方所提供的資料是絕密及不負責任的。上面的句子屬於第三部分。
本句中的it是形式主語,其主語是that……從句。
pass onhand or give sth to sb else to others傳遞;轉交
ExampleWe will pass on your decision to the buyer.
其他表達方式:
1.Please note that this information is furnished without any responsibility on our part and should be held strictly1 confidential2.
2.Please note that the information is furnished at your request without any responsibility whatsoever3 on the part of this Bank or on any of its officers.
3.May we ask that you treat this information as strictly confidential without responsibility on our part.
二Should you be prepared to reduce your limit by say 10% we might come to terms.
譯文:如果你方願意減價,譬如說減10%,也許能達成交易。
這句話是在討價還價中常用到的句子。在雙方的談判中,價格是一個很重要的環節,婉轉地提出自己的意見可以使自己處於主動地位。
say 10%是let us say 10%的簡化。
be prepared to……準備做……事
ExampleWe are not prepared to change the terms.
limit n.限度在外貿業務中有時用來指價格,即價格限度
limit is too high to permit business.
come to terms達成交易。類似說法有come to business close a bargain close a deal等等。