商贸信函汉译英

1、商贸信函汉译英商贸信函商贸信函是指利用信函的方式，通过邮政的渠道，向指定的单位或个人传达商务广告信息，以期达到一定目的信息传播活动。商业信函根据内容分为两类，即广告类商业信函和账单类商业信函，账单类商业信函也可以搭载广告。 商贸信函的分类分类：按功能分类询价函Inquiry letters报价函Offer letters确认函Confirmation letters通知函Notification letters允诺函Approval letters收款函Collection letters推销函Sales letters拒绝函Refusal letters 索赔与理赔函Claims and A

2、djustments letters 商贸函电的语言特点 商贸函电是一种比较正式的公文体,行文端正,简练,清楚,具体,完整,具有一套独有的词汇和习语,也有独特的表达方式.在措辞上比较婉转，注重礼节，经常使用一些客套语。所以,翻译时要力求作到准确、精练。重要的三要素清楚 (clarity)简练 (conciseness)礼貌 (courtesy)Clarity确保你的书信写得很清楚，不会产生误解。 如何解释下面一句话：New baskets have been adopted for flowers and we are going to send them at once。因此，对于所写的一切

3、必需检查是否清楚，有一丝怀疑，就应该重写。Conciseness 简练清楚和简练形影不离。简练就是以尽可能少的文字表达思想而又不牺牲清楚。简练的信不一定是短信，短信可能是啰嗦的，而长信可能是简练的。 Compare:1. We have received your letter under the date of June 6 and have given same our most careful consideration, but regret to have to inform you that your proposal is unacceptable to us at the pr

4、esent juncture. (Wordy)2. We are sorry we cannot at present agree to the proposal made in your letter of June 6. (Concise) 力争无废话，只有必须的短语、句子。Through years of business dealing, our company has formed the practice that shirts which are exported to European countries be packed either in bales lined with

5、 polythene, each containing 50 pieces in one pattern or in plastic-lined, waterproof cartons, reinforced with metal straps.Through years of business dealing, our company has formed the following two packing practices for shirts exported to European countries. First, pack them in bales lined with pol

6、ythene, each containing 50 pieces in one pattern. Second, pack them in plastic-lined, water-proof cartons, reinforced with metal straps.礼貌“礼貌是做生意的润滑油，它减少摩擦”。 Courtesy is oil to business-it reduces friction.礼貌是写信人对读者善意的表示。读者反过来也对写信人表示善意。 Courtesy is expression of ones good intentions towards the read

7、er in such a way that the reader in turn expresses his or her good intentions toward the writer.商业书信的结构(structure) (一)六大标准部分(Six Standard Parts)： 1.信头 2.封内地址 3.称呼语 4.正文 5.结束语 6.签署1.信头(heading section): 一般是打印好的，信头的样式多种多样，但都提供类似的信息：商行名称、地址、城市名、省名（州名）和邮政编码。有时也包括 号码、 号码等。 信头的最后一行下隔一行附上打印出来的日期。日期是一则最重要的信

8、息。 2. 封内地址（inside address） 包括收信人的姓名或商行名称和地址，一般在日期下第五行从左边空白处写起。例如： 1. The Eastern Seaboard Corporation 350 Park Avenue New York, NY 10017 U.S.A. 2. Mr. James Parrinton Vice President The Eastern Seaboard Corporation 350 Park Avenue New York, NY 10017 U.S.A.称呼语应和封内地址第一行一致。如封内地址写的是Mr James Parrison, 其称

9、呼语应是“Dear Sir” 或“Dear Mr. Parrison”.如封内地址是“The Eastern Seaboard Corporation”，其称呼应是“Dear Sirs” 或“Gentlemen”.3. 称呼语（salutation）4.正文 （Body） 正文是信的最重要部分。 开始写信之前必需考虑两点： 1）目的何在？ 2）如何写？5. 结束语（结束礼词） Complimentary Close 写信人向读者告别的表示，以免信结束得太突然。常用例子如下： Yours truly， Truly yours ， Yours sincerely, Sincerely yours,

10、 6.签署 Signature 商业书信的签署通常在结束礼词下空一行写上商行名称。在商行名称下留出足够的空白以便亲笔署名。在署名下打印出署名人的姓名和头衔。例： Sincerely yours, Paramont Motor Company (Pen-written signature) Charles Smith President商业书信的结构（二）六个任选部分 1. 经办人 2. 参考编号 3. 事由 4. 附件 5. 再启 6. 抄送经办人 可用attention line 把信导向某一部门或某一个人。 Attention line 写在封内地址和称呼之间。 ABC Trading C

11、orporation 123 Broad Street London SW1 OET Britain Attention Mr. John Smith, Export Manager Gentlemen:参考编号 （reference number） 参考编号用来涉及先前的通信。很多商行的信纸的信头中提供书写参考编号的位置。 Many letterheads provide spaces for references, e.g. Your reference: or Your ref. : Our reference: or Our ref.:事由或标题（subject or caption）

12、 事由或标题是一种手段，使人一看就知道这封信与什么有关。事由常写在称呼和正文之间。 Example 1: Subject: New Price List Example 2: Re: New Price List Example 3: New Price List附件（Enclosure） 附件只是告诉收信人在信封内还有别的东西和书信放在一起。 Example 1: Enclosures/Encl./Enc.: 2 invoices Example 2: Enclosures/Encl./Enc.: 1B/L (bill of lading 提货单） 1 Photo Example 3: En

13、closures 2 1. Signed policy 再启 （Postscript） 在使用再启时，通常在签署的最后一行以下两行的左边空白处写P.S. 再启只当做强调某信息用，不要把它用作弥补正文内容的欠周。 抄送（Carbon Copy Notation） 它告诉收信人该信的抄件将寄给其他人。在信纸左边写c.c.或cc,随后写上被抄送人的姓名或被抄送商行的名称，如： c.c. The Bank of Osaka, Kobe The Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry Seeking Friends through the BankMay 27 20

14、08The ManagerABC Bank of New YorkNew York, N.Y. 10017U.S.A.Dear Sir,Indian Trading Co., LtdThe subject firm（标题商号）, one of our important clients, is earnestly looking for some reliable importers who, in your district, are interested in Indian textiles.The firm in question （being talked about）is doing

15、 steady export business, showing satisfactory results in overseas markets.We should be grateful to you if you would let us have some names and addresses of likely importers of good standing (信用良好的)from among your customers, together with brief credit reports （资信情况）on them.Needless to say, the report

16、s supplied by you will be treated in strict confidence, and any expense you paid for this material will be settled by us upon receipt of your bill.Your prompt reply will be appreciated.Yours respectfullyIndian Commercial Bank(Pen-written signature)J. SmithManagerChinese Version 标题商号是我们主要客户之一，渴望在你地区寻

17、求几家对印度纺织品感兴趣的可靠的进口商号。该商号经营出口业务稳妥，在海外市场上经营成绩良好。如蒙告知你们客户中某些你们认为合适的信用良好的进口商号的名称和地址，并附来他们的资信简报，将十分感激。当然你们所提供的的报告，我们一定严格保密。你们为此而付出的任何费用，一接到你们的清单，我们立即支付。请迅速答复为荷。外贸函电的英汉差异相同：英语外贸函电常使用一些古词，如hereby由此 therefore因此 thereafter据此 whereof关于那个 hereto关于这个 汉语中有对等的翻译不同之处：英语函电的正式文体特征体现在句式上；而汉语主要体现在词汇上：兹、本、其、鉴于、根据、若等词表示

18、正式文体。礼貌体现不同：汉语常常通过英语中没有的“贬己尊人准则”(您、敝公司、贵厂、敬希望等)来取得和谐的效果，而英语则通过频繁使用汉字中没有的虚拟语气、时态（am looking)等的变化来实现。例子：敝公司在此敬希望贵厂能以你们一向的、If we could come to agreement on this, I think we could cooperate better in the near future.翻译技巧专业术语的翻译翻译方法文体要求礼貌要求其他专业术语的翻译最主要的靠：专业背景的学习专业词汇的积累应注意：装运通知区别：Shipping advice Shipping

19、instruction 前者系发货人给收货人后者系收货人给发货人确认：Acknowledge confirm常用于确认对方来信时We acknowledge receipt of your letter dated the 3rd inst.enclosing the above Sales Contract in duplicate在外贸习惯上仅用于确认来往电报及电传上。专业术语包装：散装bulk 大包bale 塑料袋polythene bag 纸盒cardboard box 纸板箱carton 黄麻袋gunny bangs 柳条箱crateShipmentFOB free on board

20、 CIF cost insurance and freightCFR C&F: cost and freight 介词的使用表索赔的原因for如claim for damage表索赔的金额for claim for US$10,000对某批货物索赔on, claim on the goods向某人索赔against, against the underwriter成交一笔交易，离不开订单（order ）销售合同（SC）信用证（LC）和货物（goods）, 请注意这四者如何用介词连接。LC No. against SC No. LC No. against Order No. SC No. ag

21、ainst Order No. Goods against LC No. Goods against Order No. Goods against SC No. 顺序不可颠倒 LCSCOrderagainstCovering Under For As there is no direct sailing to your port we regret being unable to ship the goods in April. There is no vessel sailing for Hamburg this month.船舶驶往某目的港，应为sail to. 与leave 相同。Sa

22、iling n. 作名词用，意为船舶时，后跟介词to.We will ship the goods, with transshipment at Hong Kong. 在某地转船，用at不用in.到期：汇票到期可以说fall duemature，但不能说expire 在信用证到期时，只能用expireYou must give us your assurance that you will honor the draft when it falls due.在商贸信函的翻译中，“忠实”必须强调“再现原文所表达的语义信息不必刻意保留原文的语言形式，而应根据译语自身的语言习惯、语法选取最贴切对等的

23、语言表达形式”用词方面例一：本公司从事纺织品出口业务，有30多年的行业经验 1、our company deals in export of textiles and has a history of over three decades in the line.2、we are exporters of textiles with a history of over thirty years in the line.组句方面若每年每种商品的定购数量不少于5000打，我方可以给予5%的特别折扣。贷款须凭借不可撤销的即期信用证支付。1、upon annual purchases of each

24、item not less than 5000 dozen, we will make you a special discount of 5%. Payment is to be made by irrevocable LC at sight.2.upon annual purchases of each item not less than 5000 dozen, we will make you a special discount of 5% with payment to be made by irrevocable LC at sight.练习：我方将用“济南”号货轮装运第122号

25、合同项下的货物，该货轮定于5月5日前后从本港驶往贵港。We shall ship Contract No.122 by s.s. “jinan” due to sail for your port on or about May 5.语气方面Enclosed please find our latest catalogue and price list for the items we are handling.随函附上本公司目前经营的商品的最新目录和价目表，敬请查收。（信息焦点）叙事视角和称谓问题语用学的观点：英汉译文的叙事人称并不一致，亦即叙事视角不一致。通常，对于汉语的第二人称叙事，英译

26、文或采用被动语态叙事或以第三人称全知视角叙事或采用第一人称缓和法间接说明问题，令外贸交往的空间更为广阔，更加利于合作和人际交往。贵方犯了一个非常大意的错误。A very careless mistake was made.贵方似乎早应办完该项手续。It seems to us that you should have done it.贵方建议恐怕令人难以接受。We are afraid that we cannot agree to your proposal.文体要求周兆祥、范志伟于年在中国翻译上发表“财经翻译漫谈”中对提升水平提出建议，即用“近文言体”quasi-ancient Chine

27、se style进行外贸函电的翻译。以下提供一些外贸函电的常用套语及其汉译：We have pleasure in sending you our catalogue, which gives full information about our various products.欣寄我方目录，提供我方各类产品的详细情况。We thank you for all past favor and we are always at your service.谢谢贵方以往的惠顾，并盼总能为您效劳。Punctual shipment can be ensured provided we receive

28、the covering LC not later than若有关信用证不迟于到达我方，可保证准时装船。Claims which fall within the responsibility of parties other than the supplier will not be accepted by us.非供货方责任的索赔，我们不予受理。礼貌要求Leech: 在所有语言交际中maximize the expression of polite beliefs minimize the expression of impolite beliefs 商务书信的礼貌级别较高，除表现在使用一些

29、常用的客套话，如：we are pleasedwe would be obliged ifyour esteemed letter等之外,还表现在越是对收信人不利的内容，所用语言越礼貌。当问题不怎么严重时：There are some problems about the quality of your products当问题较严重，对对方的责难较厉害时：We are sorry to have to complain of the quality ofWe regret to say that a part of the goods, indeed, nearly half, have lo

30、st a good deal of their quality by使这种对他人不利的表达变得间接，委婉可以让对方感到你友善和富有同情心，因而更倾向于合作。I am very happy to inform you that your captioned letter of credit has punctually reached our side and the goods in question have been ready for shipment.In reply, we very much regret to state that our end-users here find

31、your price too high and quite out of line with the prevailing market level.商贸函电的分解翻译起始用语建立贸易关系 a) 我们希望与您建立业务往来。 Please allow us to express our hope of opening an account with you. b)我们愿与贵公司建立商务关系。 We are willing to establish trade relations with your company.B. 自我推荐 本公司经营这项业务已多年，并享有很高的国际信誉。Our compa

32、ny has been in this line of business for many years and enjoys high international prestige. a)我们的产品质量一流，我们的客户一直把本公司视为最可信赖的公司。Our products are of very good quality and our firm is always regarded by our customers as the most reliable one.b)C. 推销产品我们新研制的已推出上市，特此奉告。We are pleased to inform you that we

33、have just marketed our newly-developed我们盼望成为贵公司的供应商。 We are pleased to get in touch with you for the supply of D. 索取资料 我们对贵方的新产品. 感兴趣，希望能寄来贵公司的产品目录及价目表。 We are interested in your new productand shall be pleased to have a catalog and price list.E. 寄发资料 欣寄我方目录，提供我方各类产品的详细情况。 We have pleasures in sendi

34、ng you our catalogue, which gives full information about our various products.F. 附寄资料随函附上订单确认书供参考。随函附上本公司新出品的.样品，请查收。A confirmation order is enclosed for your reference.You will find enclosed with this letter a sample of new.G. 请求做代理商我们深盼与英国公司接洽，希望成为其销售代理商之一。We are anxious to contact some British fi

35、rms with a view to acting as their selling agents. H. 请求报价请将下列货品的最低价格赐知。Kindly quote us your lowest prices for the goods listed below. J. 订货 请速告知我方是否能按修改价订货。 Please inform us by return whether we may book your order at these revised price. We shall book a trial order with you, provided you will give

36、 us a 5% commission.假如贵方给百分之五的佣金，我们将向您们试订一批货。K. 责问 你方未能按规定时间发货，给我们带来了极大的不便。 Your failure in delivering the goods within the stipulated time has greatly inconvenienced us.L. 索赔 你方提供的证明是不充分的，因此我方不能考虑你方的索赔要求。 The evidence you have provided is inadequate, therefore, we cannot consider your claim as requ

37、ested.M. 付款兹附上支票一张以付清第 号发票上的金额。We have the pleasure of enclosing our cheque in payment of your invoice No.因为货物需要迫切，如能尽快交货，将非常感激。 We shall be grateful for prompt delivery as the goods are needed urgently.我们希望能有为贵方表现服务效率的机会。We should appreciate the opportunity of showing you how efficiently we can ser

38、ve you.我方保证随时对你方利益给以足够的重视。We assure you of our careful attention to your interests at all times. 2.结尾用语Exercises 1.希望这些资料对你们有些用处。 We hope this information will prove useful to you.2.我们建议你们客户直接和他们联系，他们将会提供给你们客户一切必须的资料。 We advise your clients to communicate directly with them. They will furnish your c

39、lients with all such information as may be required.3.如蒙寄来你们最新的价目单，将十分感谢。We should be grateful if you would send us your latest prices list.4.总体上说，该货是令人满意的。The goods are satisfactory as a whole.5.该商号经营出口业务稳妥，在海外市场上经营成绩良好。The firm in question is doing steady export business, showing a satisfactory re

40、sults in overseas markets.6.这种商品需求稳定。There is a steady demand for this article.Seeking Friends through Chamber of CommerceJune 17 2008Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and IndustryTokyo 101JapanDear Sirs,We have been leading importers of light industrial products for more than ten years, and are planning to

41、 extend our business activities to our neighboring countries, from the clients in which we have many inquiries for Leather Bags.Would you please introduce us to some of the most reliable exporters of the same lines.As to our credit standing, we are permitted to mention the DEX Bank, Copenhagen as a

42、reference. （资信备询人）We are looking forward to your favorable and prompt reply.Yours faithfullyUnited Import Co., LtdManager在国际贸易中，出口商在同新客户建立业务关系前，可以要求该客户提供他的往来银行（bank reference）的名称，或是一家他以前与之有业务往来的商行(trade reference)的名称，作为资信证明人(reference)。“reference” has two meanings: (1) a piece of written information

43、 about someones character, ability, etc.证明材料 (2) a person who provides such information. 证明人Chinese Version我们十多年来一直经营轻工业品进口业务，现在打算向邻近诸国扩展业务，这些国家已有很多客户向我们寻购皮革提包。请推荐给我们一些上述商品最可靠的出口商。至于我们的资信情况，我们已征得哥本哈根DEX银行同意，把该行作为我们的资信备询人。Translate the following sentences1.他们是可靠的买主。They are reliable buyers.2.他们的信用可由瑞

44、士银行证明。Their reference is the Bank of Switzerland.3.现在我们打算向贵国南部扩展业务。We are now planning to extend our business activities to the southern part of your country.Credit InquiryDear Sir, The Maryland, Inc. The subject company is now offering to represent us in the sale of our Sewing Machines, and has ref

45、erred us to your bank for detailed information about its credit standing, business capacity and character. We shall appreciate it if you will give us your frank opinion on these points regarding the company. Any information you may give us will be treated in confidence. We assure you of our reciproc

46、ating your courtesy at any time.Chinese Version 事由/标题：玛丽兰有限公司 标题公司提出要当我公司代理，销售我们的缝纫机，并介绍我公司向贵行了解该公司的信用、业务能力和声誉的详细情况。如贵行对该公司就上述几点提出坦率意见，将非常感谢。 贵行提供的资料将严格保密。 保证随时回报贵行的好意。Reply to Credit InquiryGentlemen: The Maryland, Inc. The subject company you inquired about by your letter of October 25, 2008,has b

47、een maintaining an account with us for the past 20 years, during which they never failed to meet their obligation. Their balance sheets (资产负债表) of recent years enclosed will show you that their import business in Sewing Machines has been managed and operated under a satisfactory condition. We believe that they owe their reputable position among the local wholesalers in our district to their steady and sincere way of conducting business. Please note that this information is furn