Contract 正式合同

Agreement 协议书

Confirmation 确认书

Memorandum 备忘录

Order 订单

Generally, English contracts consist of those below:

  1. Title(合同名称)
  2. Preamble(前文)

a. Date and place of signing(订约日期和地点)

b. Signing parties and their nationalities, principal place of business or residence addresses(合同当事人及其国籍、主营业所或住所)

c. Each party’s authority(当事人合法依据)

For example, “a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of XXX”(按当地法律正式组织而存在的)

d. Recitals or WHEREAS clause(订约缘由/说明条款)

  1. Body(本文)

a. Definition clause(定义条款)

b. Basic conditions(基本条款)

c. General terms and conditions(一般条款)

d. Duration(合同有效期)

e. Termination(合同的终止)

f. Force Majeure(不可抗力)

g. Assignment(合同的让与)

h. Arbitration(仲裁)

i. Governing law(适用的法律)

j. Jurisdiction(诉讼管辖)

k. Notice(通知手续)

l. Amendment(合同修改)

m. Others(其它)

D WITNESS clause(结尾条款)

a. Concluding sentence(结尾语)

b. Signature(签名)

c. Seal(盖印)

Those formats are not fixed; the parties can make adjustments accordingly.

Be Precise and Concise

The following documents shall be deemed to form and be read and construed as an integral part of this Contract.

下列文件应被认为、读作、解释为本合同的组成部分;

This Contract can only be altered, amended, or supplemented in accordance with documents signed and sealed by authorized representatives of both parties.

本合同只能按照双方授权代表签名盖章的文件进行修改或增补;

All activities of ABC Co. shall be governed by the laws, decrees, and pertinent rules and regulations of China.

ABC公司的一切活动必须受中国的法律、法令和有关规章条例的管辖。

  • Always use Positive Voices

Party B is hereby appointed by Party A as its exclusive sales agent in Singapore. (不宜)

乙方被甲方委托为在新加坡的独家销售代理商;

Party A hereby appoints Party B as its exclusive sales agent in Singapore. (适宜)

甲方委托乙方为在新加坡的独家销售代理商;

  • Always use Present Tense

Licensee may terminate this Contract 90 days after a written notice thereof is sent to Licensor upon the happening of one of the following events:

当有下列事件之一发生,被许可人提前90天向许可人发送书面通知后,可以终止合同:

1. Licensor becomes insolvent or a liquidator of Licensor is appointed;

许可人无力偿付债务或其破产清算人以被指定;

2. The patent described in Article 2 is not issued within 30 days from signing this Contract; and

第二条规定的专利未在签约后30天之内发布;

3. Licensor fails to perform its obligations under this Contract.

许可人未能履行其合同义务。

  • Always use the Direct Expression

This Article does not apply to bondholders who have not been paid in full. (用得少)

本条款不适用于尚未全部偿付的债券持有者。

This Article applies only to bondholders who have been paid in full. (用得多)

本条款只适用于已全部偿付的债券持有者。

  • Always use one verb when Possible.

Party A shall make an appointment of its representative within 30 days after signing the Contract.

甲方应于签约后30天内指派其授权代表。宜用appoint代替 make an appointment.

Party A will give consideration to Party B’s proposal of an exclusive agency.

甲方愿意考虑乙方独家代理的建议。宜用consider代替give consideration to.

  • Those Words Below are Frequently used.

1. WHEREAS 鉴于

WHEREAS the Employer is desirous that manpower can be rendered available for the construction of High-Rise Residential Complex in Baghdad, Iraq;

鉴于雇主欲请劳动力建造伊拉克巴格达的高层住宅综合大楼;

WHEREAS the Contractor is desirous to provide the manpower for the Works;

鉴于承包人想为此工程提供劳动力;

2. WITNESS 证明

This Agreement, made by …

WITNESSES

WHEREAS…, it is agreed as follows:

本协议由……签订证明:鉴于……特此达成协议如下:

3. IN WITNESS WHEREOF 作为所协议事项的证据:

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Contract in duplicate by their duly authorized representatives on the date first above written.