為何中文說的“簽下”合約,英文不用signed而是won?因為重點不在“簽約”的動作,而是“贏了”一樁案子,won更貼切。談到簽約,還有什么英文用詞小陷阱?
1 我們公司和X飯店有簽約,所以有特別優(yōu)惠。
(×)My company has signed a contract with X Hotel, so we can get special prices.
(○ )We are in contract with X Hotel and are entitled to a special discount.
解析:“有簽約”表示一種既定狀態(tài),不是在強調(diào)動作,因此不用sign contract,而用in contract with。
2 我對合約條款只有一個問題。
(×)I have only one question about the condition.
(○ )I have only one question about the terms .
解析:合約的條款或條件,像付款期、違約罰則等,不叫condition,也不叫policy或rule,而是統(tǒng)稱term。像付款條件叫terms of payment或簡化成payment terms。
3 我們的合約上周到期。
(×)Our contract finished last week.
(○ )Our contract expired last week.
解析:合約到期有很多種說法,除了expire外還有be due(到期)或是很正式的terminate(終止),但就是不用finished(完成)??谡Z中甚至可以用up,有“到頂”的意思。
同義詞造句:
Our contract was officially due last week.
Our contract was up last week.
We officially terminated the contract last week.