合同法律英语
一、概述
1 Contract 与 Agreement的有无区别
在英语中，合同一般称为Contract，协议一般称为Agreement。何谓“contract”?1999年中国《合同法》第二条对contract定义
为： A contact in t his Law refers to an agreement establishing, modifying and terminating the civil rights and obligations between subjects of equal footing, that is ,between natural persons, legal persons or other organizations”。根据这一定义，合同平等主体之间设立的确定民事权利和义务的协议。Steven H.Gifts编著的“Law Dictionary”中将contract 定义为
“contract is a promise, or a set of promises, for breach of which the law gives remedy, or the performance of the which the law in some way recognize as a duty.”根据这一定义，合同是一种承诺，违反承诺可以得到法律救助，某种意义上法律将履行该承诺看做是一种补偿。L.B Curzon 在其编撰的字典“A Dictionary of Law”给contract的定义：“Contract is a legally binding agreement”根据这一定义，合同就是有法律约束力的协议。综合起来，有一个相同点，就是“Contract is an agreement”，即可将事同说成是“An agreement which binds the parties concerned”或者氢说合同说成是“An agreement which is enforceable by law”， 也可以说：
Contracts are promises that the law will enforce。何谓
“Agreement”?L.B “A consensus of mind, or evidence of such consensus, in spoke or written form, relating to anything done or to be done.” 根据这一定义，协议是对已经做或准备做的相关事宜，经过谈判、协商后取得一致意见，以口头或书面形式做出的约定。Black \"Law Dictionary\"有两个定义。一个是：“A concord of understanding and intention between two or more parties with respect to the effect upon their relative rights and duties, of certain past or future facts or performance”根据这一定义，协议即双方或多方京某些过去或将来某些事实的相关权利、义务或相关权利、义务的履行而达成的一致理解和愿望。另一个是：
“The consent of two or more persons concurring respecting the transmiion of some property, right or benefits, with the view of contacting an obligation, a mutual obligation.”根据这一定义，协议即两个或多个当事人，为了约定单方责任或相互责任，就财产权利、利益的转移取得的一致同意。Contract(合同)和Agreement(协议)是不是可以互换呢？合同的成立必须具备几个主要因素。它们（要约和承诺构成的）协议、约因、设立法律关系的愿望和缔约能力四大部分组成。L.B Curzon编著的“A Diction of Law”提到：
“Contract generally involves”1.offer and absolute and unqualified acceptance (要约和绝对接受)2.consensus ad idem (意思表示一致， 也叫
meeting of minds)3.intention to create legal relations (建立合同关系的意 1
愿)4.genuinene of consent (同意的真实性)5.contractual capacity of the parties (合同当事人的缔约能力)6.legality of object(标的物的合法性)7.poibility of performance (履行的可能性)8.certainty of terms(条款的确定性)9.valuable consideration(等价有
偿)Black \'Law Dictionary\" 中解释道：
Although often used as synonyms with \"contract\", agreement is a broader term, e.g.an agreement might lack an eential element of a contact.\" 即“协议”和“合同”经常用作同义词，但“协议”这一术语含义更广，例如协议可能缺乏合同的必备条款（eential clauses/provisions）。实际使用当中，协议可不受必备条款的限制，而称为合同的文体肯定少不了必备条款，有的合同将其单列，称为一般条款（General provisions）。1999中国《合同法》第十二条规定了八项一般条款，分别是：
1.title or name and domicile of the parities(当事人的名称或姓名和住址)2.contract object(标的)3.quantity(数量)4.quality(质量)5.price or remuneration(价款或者报
酬)6.time limit, place and method of performance (履行期限、地点和方
式)7.liability for breach of contract(违约责任)8.methods to settle disputes (解决争议的方法)上述解释说明，contract(合同)和agreement(协议)的概念虽然接近，但使用范围不同，不能互换使用。合同是协议的重要组成部分，所有合同一定是协议，而协议不见得都是合同。可以说具备合同成立要求的具有强制执行力的协议才是合同。
2．“契约”的英语表达
英语中表达契约的用语有：covenant, indenture, deed和compact。它们含义有无区别呢。在Black的“Law Dictionary”中，covenant是指：
Agreement, convention or promise or more parties, by deed in writing, signed, and delivered, by which either of the parties pledged himself to the other that something is either done, or shall be done, or shall not be done, or stipulates for the truth of certain facts.The term is currently used primarily with respect to promises in conveyance or other instruments relating to real estate.看来covenant主要指针对不动产**或与不动产相关的证明文件。在Black的“Law Dictionary”中，indenture 是指：
A deed between tow parties conveying real estate by which both parities aume obligations, Historically, indenture referred to a crease or wavy cut that was made in duplicates of the deed so their authenticity could be verified later.看来indenture针对的也是不动产**，但在传统做法中为证明其真实性，被人一撕为二，留下折痕或波纹状撕痕，以供未来核对的那种契约就叫indenture.在Black的“Law Dictionary”中，deed是指：
A conveyance of realty; a writing signed by grantor, whereby title to realty is transferred from one to another; a written instrument, sighed and delivered , by which one person conveys land, tenements, or hereditaments to another.看来indenture针对的还是不动产的产权**，指的是经签字和转移的一方向另一方出让土地、租房或遗产的书面协议。历史的房契指的就是deed。在Black的
“Law Dictionary”中，compact是指：
An agreement or contact between persons, nations or states.Commonly applied to working agreements between and among states concerning matters of mutual concern.看来compact是指人、国家、州之间订立的协议、协定或合同，主要指国家间就共同关心的问题在达成的协议，也指当事人之间独立而特别设定的能够并可实施权力和义务的合同。和covenant，indenture和deed不同的是，compact一词不主要针对不动产，而指国家间的协定。
3．常见的合同划分与种类：
根据国内外民法原理，合同可有下列不同的标准划分：oral/parole contract and written contract (口头合同与书面合同)con** contract and real contract (诺成合同与实践合
同)formal contract and informal contract (要式合同与不要式
合)unilateral contract and bilateral contract (单务合同与双务合
同)principal contract and acceory contract (主合同与从合
同)causative contract and non-causative contract (要因合同与不要因合
同)commutative contract and independent contract (可替换合同与独立合
同)expre contract and implied contract (明示合同与隐含合
同)divisible contract and indivisible contract (可分合同与不可分合
同)entire contract and severable contract (不可分合同与可分合
同)executed contract and executory contract (已履行的合同与待履行的合
同)gratuitous contract and onerous contract (无偿合同与有偿合
同)certain contract and hazardous contract （确定合同与射幸合同）
simple contract and contract under seal (盖印合同与非盖印合同)joint and several contract (连带合同)conditional contract (附条件合同)constructive contract (推定合同)investment contract (投资合同)open end contract (无限制合同)quasi contract (准合同)altruistic contract (利他合
同)cost-plus contract (用于**采购的照本加成合同)还有：
gentleman\'s agreement: Generally an unsigned and unenforceable agreement made between parties who expect its performance because of good faith.君子协定（即当事人未被签字也不会强制实施的，仅仅寄希望于双方诚意履行的协议）
1999年中国《合同法》第九章到第二十三章就合同种类做了概括，它们分别是：Sales contracts (买卖合同)Contracts for Supply of Power, Water, Gas or Heat (供用电、水、气、热力合同)Gift contracts (赠与合同)Contracts for loan of money (借款合同)Leasing contracts (租凭合
同)Financial leasing contracts (融资租凭合同)Work-for-hire contracts (承揽合
同)Contacts for construction projects (建筑工程合同)Carriage contracts (运输合
同)Technology contracts (技术合同)Safe-keeping contracts (保管合同)Warehousing contracts (仓储合同)Agency appointment contracts (委托**合同)Trading trust contracts (委托合
同)Brokerage contracts ( 行纪合同和居间合同)就实践中常见的合同协议而言，劳动人事方面包括有：labor contract (劳动合同)confidentiality agreement (保密协议)non-complete agreement (竞争禁止协
议)human agency agreement (人事**协议)contract of sale of commodity houses (商品房买卖合同)tenancy agreement (租凭协
议)contract for aignment, lease and transfer of the right to the use of land (土地使用权出让、出租、**合同)mortgage agreement (抵押合同)loan contract (贷款合
同)property management contract (物业管理合
同)contract for construction engineering and installation of project (建议工程承包、安装合同)服务方面有：
Technical service agreement, technical consulting agreement, technical development agreement, technical transfer agreement, licensing agreement.(技术服务、咨询、开发、**、许可协议)；Agency agreement (**协议)Insurance contract (保险合同)Financing agreement (融资协
议)Venture capital management agreement (风险投资管理协
议)Employment contract for legal consultant (法律顾问协议)公司方面包括有：
joint venture contract (合资企业合同)articles of aociation, corporate bylaw (章
程)partnership agreement (合伙协议)agreement on aignment of equity interests (股权**协议)composition agreement (和解协议)物流（Logistics）方面包括有：sales contract (买卖合
同)purchase contract (采购合同)carriage/transportation contract (运输合
同)import and export contract (进出口合同)warehousing and safekeeping contract (仓储保管合同)contract for compensation trade (补偿贸易合同)人身（personal right）方面包括有：
legacy-support agreement (遗赠抚养协议)divorce agreement (离婚协议)
4．合同的订立、变更、终止、解除、撤销
汉语中关于合同的订立、变更、解除和撤销说法确定，而英语的表达有有多种。英语中关于合同的订立的表述有：
Make a contractEnter into a contractForm a contract Create a contractConclude a contract Execute a contractCovenant名词科短语的形式分别是：
The making of contractThe conclusion of contractThe entry into contract The formation of a contractThe creation of a contractThe conclusion of contract The execution of contract Covenant如英文合同、协议的开始句：
This agreement/contract is made and entered in to this ____ day of _____(month), _______ (year) by and between Party A and Party B, the parties hereby covenant as follows:本协议/合同由甲乙双方于______年______月______日订立，双方特此约定如下：英语中关于合同变更的表述有Alter: 名词形式alteration， 指只改变合同细节而不致合同丧失原貌；Change: 名词形式与动词同，指实质性导致合同丧失原貌的变更Modify: 名词形式modification， 指根据新的意图，并限定在该意图之内的变更英语中关于合同的终止与撤销的表达法有：
1.Terminate a contract ,名词形式termination of contract Black\'s Law Dictionary解释说：
Termination refers to an ending, usually before the end of the anticipated term of the contract
, which termination may be my mutual agreement or may be by exercise of one party of one of his remedies due to the default of the other party.Termination通常指合同在约定期满之前终止履行。该终止既可经双方同意而做出，也指一方因另一方违约而行使的一种救济权。但是《美国统一商法典》却规定，“终止”是指合同方未违反合同约定而依法终止合同
（Under the Uniform Commercial Code, \"termination\" means legally ending a contract without being broken by either side）
2.cancel a contract,Black\'s Law Dictionary解释说：
cancellation occurs when either party puts an end to the contract for breach by the other and its effect is the same as that of \"termination\" except that the canceling party also retains any remedy for breach of the whole contract or any unperformed balance.Cancel 指一方另因另一方违约而解除或取消合同，其效力与termination （终止）一词几乎一致，不同点在于撤销一方仍有权对整个合同或合同中未履行部分主张救济。
3.discharge contractSteven H.Gifis 的“Law Dictionary”解释说：
When it is said that a contract is discharged, it always meant that one or more of the legal relations of the parties have been terminated.The meaning that is most commonly intended is that the legal duty of one of the parties has been terminated.A party who is aerted to be under a legal duty by virtue of his contract may reply that duty has been discharged by some factor that has occurred since the making of the contract.Discharge a contract 意味着合同当事人的合同关系已经终止。他方在主张自己应履行因合同而发生的法定义务时可辩称，合同义务已因订立合之后发生的因素而解除。看来discharge a contract多指合同关系的解除。
4.rescind a contractSteven H.Gifis 的“Law Dictionary”解释说：
To abrogate a contract, release the parties from further obligations to each other and restore the parties to the positions they would have occupied if the contract had never been made.For instance, in rescinding a sales contract, any monies paid or good s received would usually be returned to their original holders though the parties could agree otherwise.Rescind a contract指取消合同，免除当事人之间伯合同义务，将当事人各自地位恢复到合同订立之前的状态。比如，解除买卖合同时，尽管当事人可另有约定，但通常会将支付的价款或收到的货物返还给原持有人。Rescind a contract 这种解除意味着将法事人关系恢复到合同成立之前的状态。5．Revoke a contract Black\'s Law Dictionary解释说：to annul or make void by recalling or taking back即以取消或撤回的方式废止或宣布无效。相比之下，revoke出于行为人的意愿意，即是行为人主动发出的行为。了解上述区别与联系，可避免对应单词的混用，实现术语的准确表达。
