第三讲 商务信函的翻译handout

商务信函的正确格式
流行完全齐头式(full blocked style)，其各部分分别如下：
1）信头（heading）即寄信人地址；
2）日期（date）
3）文档号（reference）如，our ref：WFX/SQ, your ref: JS201/SD707;
4）信内地址（受函人地址）（inside address）
5）主办人如：Attention：The Sales Manager；
6）称呼（Salutation）；
7）事由，如：Subject：Invoice No。

2017 BY 05
8）正文（body）
9）函尾套语（Complimentary Close）
10）姓名（signature）
11）姓名（打字）
12）职务
13）发信人及打信人（姓名缩写）STW/SJ;
14）附件（enclosure）
15）副本（CC. carbon copy）
16）再启/又启（postscript）P.S.
商务信函的语言特点
1）clearness 明了
2）conciseness 简洁
3）correctness 准确
4）preciseness 严谨
5）courtesy 礼貌
6）professionalism专业性
翻译注意：
1）重在记实；
2）把握语气
3）文言词语
Dear 。

台鉴、大鉴，尊鉴
收悉，承蒙，乞谅，为盼。

4）英译汉保留格式，汉译英调整格式
5）摘译
6）把握原文正式程度
商务信函的文体特点
1.词语使用特点
1）用词规范正式
正式词汇，基本词汇和非正式词汇并存，多使用正式词汇和中性词汇，体现商务公函规范正式，公事公办的特点。

We are pleased to advice you that your order No. 103 has been dispatched in accordance with your
instruction.
我们高兴地通知你们：第103号订单货物已遵照你方指示运出。

In accordance with your request, we are sending you herewith our price list and some pamphlets. 根据你方要求现附寄价目表及说明书数本。

We will meet you half way by offering a discount of 5% in view of our long pleasant relations.
鉴于我们之间长期愉快的业务关系，本公司将酌情考虑给予5%的折扣。

All offers and sales are subject to the terms and conditions printed on the reverse side hereof.
所有报盘和销售均应一本报价单背面所印条件为准。

In such a case, Seller is bound to reimburse Buyer for any loss or damage sustained therefrom.
在此情况下，卖方负责偿还买方由此所遭受的损失。

2）. 表意准确、专业性强
大量使用专业术语，行话，外来借词，缩略语及一般词汇在商务语境中的特殊用法。

Trimming charges 平仓费
Insurance policy 保险单
Coverage 险别
Premium 保险费
Underwriter 保险人
Establishment 开证
Counteroffer 还盘
Proforma invoice 形式发票
We shall cover TPND on your order.
我们将为你方的货物投保。

It would be appreciated if you would let us know by return your lowest possible price for the following goods FOB London.
请报下列商品伦敦船上交货价。

Average is of two kinds; General Average and Particular Average.
The vendor shall deliver the goods to the vendee by June 15.
The market here for this product is active, and the best price we can offer is US $ 150 or over per long ton.
3）. 用语朴素，淡于修饰
Dear Sirs,
Thank you for your interest in our fireworks.
In reply to your enquiry of November 10, we are really sorry to say that we cannot divulge any of our sales information. We hope this will not bring you too much inconvenience.
Yours truly,
承蒙贵方对我们的烟花感兴趣，十分感谢。

兹复贵方11月10询价函，我们非常抱歉地奉告，我们不能泄露我方任何销售情况。

我们希望这不会给贵方带来很多不便。

2．句子结构特点
1）句式正规完整
正式书面英语，频繁使用复句，分词短语，不定式短语，插入语，同位结构，独立主格结构等。

In order to facilitate business in consideration of the present monetary stringency, the corporation, on behalf of which I am studying this proposition, is willing to base transaction on trade by barter and would import any articles, which you would ship to the United States.
最近银根很紧，为谋求达成交易，本人代表公司正在研究如何做成这笔交易，我们希望以易货贸易为基础，进口你方能运到美国的任何商品。

2）用陈述句表示委婉的祈使意义。

We should be glad to have your immediate shipping instructions.
We should be obliged if you would send us by air a copy of the packing list for the shipment to be dispatched by sea.
3) 大量使用套语
表示收到对方来函：we are in receipt of your letter; we admit receipt of your letter; we acknowledge receipt of.
表示自己是在回复某份函电：regarding your letter of; in reply to your letter of; referring to your letter of
表示自己从何处得知对方：we owe your name and address to; your name and address has been given by; …has referred us to you.
表示希望得到回函：to hear from you in the affirmative; to receive your positive/ favorable reply 说明寄上某物：enclosed please find; we are enclosing..
3. 礼貌，委婉语气的把握
We have not received your payment of the balance of US& 5 000.
We regret having to remind you that we have not received your payment of the balance of US $ 5,000.
使用please
Please see to it that your goods meet our requirements.
使用be grateful (obliged)
We should be grateful/ obliged if you could provide us with all possible information on your market.
使用invite
We wish to invite/ draw/ call your attention to the fact that the buyers are in urgent need of the contracted goods.
Thank you for your letter of June 6 and we enclose our Order No. 2245 for ladies’ shoes.
感谢贵方6月6日来函，现寄上第2245号女鞋订单。

With reference to your letter of May 6, we are pleased to give an order for the following.
根据贵方5月6日来函，我方乐意订购下列货物。

This is a trial order. Please send us 35 sets only so that we may tap the market. If successful, we will give you large orders in the future.
试订35台以开发市场。

如若成功，随后必大量订货。

If you can accept &275 and send us a proforma invoice, we will open a letter of credit for 1 000 sets.
如能接受275美元的价格并寄送形式发票，我方立即开立1 000 套的信用证。

商务信函翻译要点
1. 商务英语信函翻译原则
准确，规范，功能对等
The duplicate shipping documents including bill of lading, invoice, packing list and inspection certification were airmailed to you today.
Please be informed that, on account of the fluctuations of foreign exchanges the quotations is subject to change without previous notice.
Full information as to prices, quality, quantity available and other relative particulars would be appreciated.
We are looking forward to a favorable reply.
Would you let us know what your terms of payment are?
We should be grateful if you would give us further details of Chinese leather shoes.
Please inform us how soon you can make delivery.
1）熟悉普通词语的特殊表达意义
The product will find a good market in USA.
At present, we cannot entertain your counteroffer, as our price is quite reasonable.
You claim should be supported by sufficient evidence.
We shall take out insurance at this end under our Open Policy.
2）理解原文结构，语法和逻辑关系
The goods we received contrary to our instructions are packed in wooden cases without iron hoops.
Please note that the 200 machine tools you ordered on September 15 will be dispatched tomorrow by rail to San Francisco for shipment by s.s Sichuan, which leaves for Shanghai on October 28. we enclose our invoice and shall draw on you at sight against this shipment through Bank of China here, as agreed. We ask you may place with us will always be carefully attended to.
翻译下列信件：
Dear Sirs,
Our market survey informs us that you are a big buyer of Cotton Piece Goods. As this item falls within the scope of our business activities, we take this opportunity to express our wish to establish direct business relations with you at an early date.
In order to give you a general idea of the various kinds of Cotton Piece Goods now available for export, we enclose a brochure and a price list. Quotations and sample books will be airmailed to you upon receipt of your specific inquiry.
We look forward to your favorable reply.
Yours faithfully,
Gentlemen,
I have been informed that MARBLE is being imported and used in your country in the manufacture of figures, art objects, architectural ornaments and for many other purposes.
There are quantities of this item here, in different weights and sizes, with varied colours and shapes. The price is very reasonable and the quotations will be given upon request.
In order to promote business of mutual benefit, I am willing to exchange goods with you. I’ll be glad to hear from you at an early date and possibly, with all particulars. You will have my immediate attention.
Yours Sincerely,
Dear Sirs,
Your inquiry of Sept. 10 has received our attention, and thank you for your interest in our leather shoes and handbags.
A copy of our illustrated export catalogue will be sent to you today. All the goods we supply are made from leather of the very best quality. The bright colors and elegant designs together with the super workmanship can meet the requirement of a fashion trade such as yours.
A representative of our company is now in Hong Kong. He will be pleased to call on you next
week with a full range of samples of our hand-made lines. He is authorized to discuss the terms of order with you or negotiate a contract. We shall be most grateful if you will give him the benefit of your advice and assistance.
Your truly,
Dear Sirs,
We have carefully studies your letter of Dec. 14. As our two firms have done business with each other for so many years, we should like to grant your request to lower the prices of our underwear. But there are difficulties. Our cost of raw materials has risen sharply in the past three months and to reduce prices by 5% you mentioned could not be done without considerably lowering our standards of quality. This is something we are not prepared to do. Instead of 5% reduction on underwear, we suggest a reduction of 3% on all lines. On orders of this size we would manage to make the reduction without lowering our standards.
We hope you will agree to our counter-suggestion and we look forward to receiving orders from you as in the past.
Yours truly,
Shipping instructions
Gentlemen,
We are in receipt of your telegram of May 6, from which we understand that you have booked our order for 2 000 dozens of shirts.
In reply, we have the pleasure of informing you that the confirmed, irrevocable Letter of Credit No. 7634, amounting to $ 17 000, has been opened this morning through the Commercial Bank, Tokyo. Upon receipt of the same, please arrange shipment of the goods booked by us with the least possible delay. We are informed that s.s. “Wuxi” is scheduled to sail from your city to our port on May 28. We wish that the shipment will be carried by that steamer.
Should this trial order prove satisfactory to our customers, we can assure you that repeat orders in increased quantities will be placed.
Your close cooperation in this respect will be highly appreciated. In the meantime we look forward to your ship advice.
Yours sincerely,
Dear Sirs,
We are writing to you at the suggestion of our Commercial counselor’s Office of the Embassy in your country. We take the liberty to introduce ourselves as exporters of silk piece goods, which we have been exporting to Europe and Japan.
We are specialized in the above business and recall that many years ago, considerable business was done with your country on such items. Now that the diplomatic relation between our two countries has been established, we are desirous of establishing direct business relations with your corporation, knowing that you are the buyer of silk piece goods.
We shall be grateful if you will let us know whether you are interested in the above items. If so, please inform us of the quality required.
Yours faithfully
Dear Sirs,
We hae received with thanks your letter dated March 17, 2006 and wish to extend you our warm welcome for your desire to establish business contact with us.
We are a state-operated enterprise, and wish to carry on trade with manufactures and merchants of all countries on the basis of quality and mutual benefit for the development of commercial relations with people of different nations.
In compliance with your request, we are enclosing herewith our catalog and a range of pamphlets for your guidance.
If you find any of the articles illustrated in the pamphlets of interest, please let us have your specific enquiries so as to enable us to send you our quotations.
Yours faithfully,
August 15, 2006
Vemeer Manufacturing Company
P. O. Box 200/3840 New Sharon Road
Pella, Iowa 50129
U. S. A
Gentlemen,
From the samples sent us on June 5, we have made selections, and have the pleasure of handing you the following order, which we commend to your immediate and best attention, viz:
500 chests of Ceylon Black Tea,
500 sacks of Brazilian Coffee, not ground.
Kindly forward these by fast freight, Enclosed please find a draft as per price list you sent us.
Yours truly,
F. McFARLAND & Co.
(signature) President
Dear Sirs,
From your letters of April 2 we note that you wish to have a change in payment terms.
We regret that we cannot accept your proposal because our usual terms of payment by confirmed and irrevocable letter of credit remain unchanged in all ordinary cases.
For future shipment, however, we shall do our best to fulfill your orders within the time we agreed. We trust you will appreciate our cooperation.
Yours sincerely,
Dear Mr. Johnson,
Would you please quote for delivery and installation of new furniture for the refectory and office of our company?
1.The refectory area is approximately 30mX20m and we require six dining tables, each with
four chairs from your No.4 range, and twelve “Junior Executive” chairs.
2.Would you please quote price inclusive of transportation and insurance, and informs us when
delivery will take place?
We look forward to receiving quotation soon, as we shall need to make a final decision in the matter before the end of this financial year.
Yours sincerely,
Purchasing Department Manger
答复函
Dear Mr. Holmes,
“Export Guides for Asia”is being mailed to you today with our compliments. If you need additional copies, just let me know.
You’ll see in the circular enclosed that International Air Cargo also has available export guides to other areas. If you have to use any of the guides listed, just drop me a note and I’ll send them. Please be assured, Mr. Holmes, that if there is any way that International Air Cargo can assist you with your exporting problems, we’d be delighted to hear from you.
Thank you for your writing.
Yours sincerely,
答复函
Dear sirs,
We are delighted at the receipt of your letter of 7th April and note what you write.
We note with pleasure that you are sending us samples of imitation Fancy Earl Necklaces and Earrings, on receipt of which we shall examine same along with the price-list you have furnished us with, and if your designs are quite acceptable to our clents and prices competitive, we shall immediately pass on our orders.
We have also received Price-list of Toys and Pens, but we would say that we should like to have some latest designs, which have not yet come to our market, and if you can furnish us with such items, we shall be obliged if you will kindly let us have a couple of samples of these, as our clients would like to see samples before placing their orders.
You can rest assured that we shall do our best to pass on our orders.
Yours faithfully,
Martin Thomas
President of California Trading Company
拒绝函
Dear Sirs:
We are informed in your letter of October 22 that our price for the above article is too high, since Japanese goods are being offered to you at a price approximately 10% lower than that quoted by us. Although we do not doubt about what you say, we are of the opinion that the quality of other makes does not measure up to that of our products. Desirous as we are to expand our business with you, we feel very regretful that we cannot accept your counteroffer or even meet your half-way. The best we can do is to make a reduction of 2% in our previous quotation. We hope you will direct the attention of your users to the superior quality of our products.
We hope to hear from you soon.
Yours truly。