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摘要：“Against”是经贸英语中使用频率极高和使用范围极广的一个介词，其意思往往令人难以琢磨。本文利用大量可靠和权威的例证论述了介词“against”在经贸英语中常见的含义和用法。了解和熟悉该词的这些含义和用法不仅有助于正确理解和使用该词，而且对正确理解和使用经贸英语也大有裨益。
关键词：介词against；用法；译评
［中图分类号］H043
［文献标识码］A
［文章编号］1006-2831(2007)02-0067-4
Abstract: “Against”is a most frequently and widely used preposition in business English whose meanings are hard to grasp or understand. This paper, based on numerous authentic examples, studies its principal meanings and usage in business English. Grasping and understanding these meanings as well as the usage will be not only helpful to the correct use and understanding of this word but also conducive to the correct use and understanding of business English as a whole.
Key words: “against” usage; translation and comment
1. 引论
“Against”是一个极为常见的介词，不但在一般英语中使用频繁，而且在经贸英语中使用得也十分广泛，其意义极其纷繁复杂，往往叫人难以琢磨。“Against”原来的意思是“与……相对”(contrary to)、“在……对面”(opposite to)、“向着……的方向”（in the direction of）等。但现在常用于指“碰撞、压迫、反抗”等之类的动作、行为或其它引申比喻意义，主要与一些特定的动词或表示动作的名词搭配使用，如fight (act) against——反抗，behave against the school rules——违背校规，actions against orders——违反命令的行动，protest against——抗议等。
“Against”与不同的词语搭配使用和使用在不同的上下文中时，其意义也随之变化。此外，“against”往往又使用在经贸英语句子、尤其是经贸合同句子的关键部位，理解稍有不慎，便极有可能导致理解和翻译失误，酿成大错。
为了正确理解和使用“against”一词，笔者现就把自己在阅读和翻译过程中收集到的“against”在经贸英语中的常见含义、用法和翻译概述以下。
2.“Against”在经贸英语中的常见含义和用法
“Against”在经贸英语中的常见含义和用法除了保留其基本含义和用法之外，还具有不少的引申比喻意义的用法，其含义和用法惟妙惟肖。现将“against”在经贸英语中的常见用法和含义及其翻译技巧逐一概括如下：
2.1 按照、按(in accordance with, according to, as per)
(1) Maybe, you can check the invoice against the contract for me.
也许你能代我将发票按照合同核对一下。
(2) Weight certificate by ... at discharging part to be taken as final with one percent weight allowance against invoice weight.
以……卸货港出具的重量证书为准，允许按发票重量溢短装1％。
2.2 凭据、以……为条件(under the condition of, provided that, subject to)
(1) Upon first presentation the buyers shall pay against documentary draft drawn by the sellers at sight, the shipping documents are to be delivered against payment only.
买方应凭卖方开具的即期跟单汇票，于见票时立即付款，付款后交单。
该条款中两个“against”的用法一致，相当于subject to，以……为条件。第一个“against”说明以卖方开具的即期跟单汇票为付款条件，第二个“against”则说明先付款，然后再交出单证。
(2) So we get payment against a bill of lading and a draft, which the buyer can discount.
所以我们只能凭提单及买主能够贴现的汇票收取货款。
下面再请看两个这方面用法的例子：
Documents against payment (D/A) 付款交单
Documents against acceptance (D/A) 承兑交单
“付款交单”的意思是：documents be tendered to importer subject to his payment （以进口人付清货款为交出货运单据的依据）。
“承兑交单”的意思是：documents be tendered to the importer subject to his acceptance of the draft (以进口人承兑汇票为条件交出货运单据)
2.3 保……险种(against常用在合同保险条款中，后面引出承保的险种)
(1) Marine insurance to be effected by the seller against F.D.A. for invoice amount plus ten percent only, any additional insurance required by the buyer shall be effected by him and at his own expense.
卖方按发票金额加10％投保平安险，买方如需加保，由其自行投保并负担费用。
(2) Seller shall effect marine insurance against All Risks including War Risks.
卖方投保海洋运输终合险及战争险。
2.4 与……比较、同……相比、而……(as compared with)
(1) Against the invoiced weight the consignment was found short of 1,350 kgs.
与发票上开出的重量相比，货物短重1,350公斤。
(2) As against last year, our grain export has increased six percent.
同去年相比，我们的粮食出口增加了百分之六。
(3) Ninety-eight factories have finished the task this season against 60 last season.
本季度有98家工厂完成了任务，而上季度只有60家。
(4) We will have to race against the clock if we want to get ready for the contract by next Monday.
如果我们想在下星期一前做好签订合同的准备，我们就不得不与时间赛跑。
2.5 违反、反对、不要(in violation of, be opposed to)
(1) It is against the contractual stipulations that you failed to open the Letter of Credit 30 days prior to shipment.
你方未能在交货前三十天开据信用证，这是违背合同规定的。
(2) The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of this corporation voted against the investment plan.
这个公司的首席执行官投票反对了该项投资计划。
(3）The general manager warned me against discussing the production quota at the meeting.
总经理警告我，不要在会上讨论生产配额问题。
2.6 与……兑换(尤其指不同货币之间相互兑换的汇率)，以……抵付(in exchange for, pay for)
(1) The rate of Euro against the U.S. Dollar has been appreciating since the eleventh of September, 2001.
欧元对美元的汇率自从2001年9月11日以来一直在上升。
(2) There is a run on gold against US dollars in the world now.
目前世界上出现了以美元兑换黄金的风潮。
(3) He draw a check against all his bank balance.
他开支票支取了他所有的银行余额。
(4) Income against expenditure.
以收抵支。
(5) We will break even in the first quarter of this year if we set our gains against our losses.
如果我们以盈余抵补亏损的话，我们今年第一季度便是不盈不亏。
2.7 对付、应对(in preparations for, in response to)
(1) Fluctuations in exchange rates may be overcome by buying or selling forward exchange,
but against the actions of the governments, like embargoes, a shipper can only protect himself by making special arrangements with his own government.
外汇汇率的波动可以通过买进或卖出远期外汇加以解决，但对付政府的某些行动如禁运，发货人则能同自己的政府作些特别安排以保护自己的利益不受损失。
(2) I誨 like to have some beer to fortify myself against the afternoon work.
我想喝点啤酒，以便有精力应对今天下午的工作。
2.8 避免、防止(on guard against, in prevention of)
(1) A hedge contract cannot guarantee a manufacturer against loss but it can restrict his loss within very narrow limits by averaging out the cost of his raw materials for many months ahead.
套头交易不能担保厂商避免损失，但由于能提前数月算出原料成本，因而可以把厂商的损失限制在极小的范围之内。
(2) The employer warns the contractor against default.
雇主提醒承包商谨防违约。
2.9 仅在……之后、除非(only after..., unless)
(1) Sight draft terms involve less risk, since title to a consignment is only released against payment.
即期汇票条款涉及的风险较少，因为只有在付款后才能获得货物的所有权。
(2) Payment shall be effected against delivery only.
货到之后才能付款。(以上两例中的against相当于only after...)
2.10 向某人……、朝某人……(towards somebody)
(1) ..., the Buyers shall, during the guarantee period, request CCIB to make a survey and shall make a claim against the sellers (including replacement of the goods) and all the expenses incurred there from shall be borne by the sellers.
……，在保证期内，买方应委托中国商检局进行检验，并凭其检验证书向卖方提出索赔（包括换货），由此引起的所有费用应由卖方负担。（这里不能用介词to代替against，向……提出索赔，也可用动词短语claim against somebody）
(2) “I am innocent of all the charges against me” said the chairman of the Board.
董事长说，“对于所有针对我的指控，我都是无辜的”。
2.11 以……为背景、在……背景下(in contrast to)
(1) How can American corporations survive against the backdrop of a sluggish world economy?
美国公司在世界经济萧条的背景下怎样才能幸存下来呢？
2.12 为了、用于(for the purpose of, for the sake of)
(1) The Contractor shall receive 10% (ten percent) advance payment against mobilization upon signing the contract with the Employer. （该条款中的against可理解为for）
承包商在同雇主签订合同后便可获得10%的工程动员预付款。
(2) They prepared a big dinner against the return of the Chief Executive Officer of the corporation.
他们准备了一顿丰盛的晚餐，为公司首席执行官的归来接风。
(3) Keynesians, monetarists and the rational expectations school all agree that the essence of demand-pull inflation is too much speeding beating against a limited supply of goods producible at full employment. (The Economics by Paul. A. Samuelson)
凯恩斯主义者、货币主义者和理论预期学派都同意，需求拉动通货膨胀的实质在于，过多的货币支出追逐在充分就业条件下可生产出来的有限的物品供给。
2.13 与……竞争(vie with somebody for)
(1) The contractors bid against each other on (for) the new project.
承包商们投标相互竞争以取得一项新工程的营造权。
(2) On the other hand, these developments mean that Southeast Asian Countries have to compete against China for export markets and foreign investments.
另一方面，这些发展意味着东南亚国家在出口市场和外国投资方面不得不同中国进行竞争。
2.14 对……不利(be unfavorable for, not in favor of)
(1) Many of these obligations can give rise to problems and complication but a bank customer, unlike, say, a buyer of goods, cannot complain that the law is loaded against him. (New Concept English Book 4)
尽管这些义务可能会发生一些问题和纠纷，但是一个银行客户和譬如说货物的买主就不一样，不能埋怨法律有偏见，对他不利。
(2) Two factors weigh heavily against the effectiveness of scientific research in industry.
有两个因素对于工业界科学研究的成果产生巨大的不利的影响。(New Concept English Book 4)
2.15 涉及、以……有关(concerning, in respect of)
(1) Our intelligence against Iraq has been good. (at a speech delivered by Tony Blair to the U.S. Congress on July 18, 2003)
我们涉及伊拉克的情报是可靠的。
2.16 依赖、依靠(rely on, depend on)
(1) The question now, for Greenspan, was how hard the Federal Reserve could lean against the economy to slow it down, to avoid a drastic series of imbalances. (Bob Woodward: Greenspan誷 Fed and the American Boom.)
对格林斯潘来说，现在的问题是，美联储要依赖经济本身使其过热的势头减慢下来，以避免出现一系列的平衡失调的难度之大。
3. 结论
本文以上举例说明了“against”在经贸英语中的常见含义和用法。要准确理解和正确使用“against”，首先我们要注意与其经常搭配使用的词语及其含义，二要当心其在不同上下文中所具有的不同意思。只有这样，才能把握住“against”在字里行间和上下文中的种种含义和用法，从而准确理解和正确使用该词，最终达到语言交际的目的和成功完成语言交际的任务。
参考文献
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关键词：介词against；用法；译评
［中图分类号］H043
［文献标识码］A
［文章编号］1006-2831(2007)02-0067-4
Abstract: “Against”is a most frequently and widely used preposition in business English whose meanings are hard to grasp or understand. This paper, based on numerous authentic examples, studies its principal meanings and usage in business English. Grasping and understanding these meanings as well as the usage will be not only helpful to the correct use and understanding of this word but also conducive to the correct use and understanding of business English as a whole.
Key words: “against” usage; translation and comment
1. 引论
“Against”是一个极为常见的介词，不但在一般英语中使用频繁，而且在经贸英语中使用得也十分广泛，其意义极其纷繁复杂，往往叫人难以琢磨。“Against”原来的意思是“与……相对”(contrary to)、“在……对面”(opposite to)、“向着……的方向”（in the direction of）等。但现在常用于指“碰撞、压迫、反抗”等之类的动作、行为或其它引申比喻意义，主要与一些特定的动词或表示动作的名词搭配使用，如fight (act) against——反抗，behave against the school rules——违背校规，actions against orders——违反命令的行动，protest against——抗议等。
“Against”与不同的词语搭配使用和使用在不同的上下文中时，其意义也随之变化。此外，“against”往往又使用在经贸英语句子、尤其是经贸合同句子的关键部位，理解稍有不慎，便极有可能导致理解和翻译失误，酿成大错。
为了正确理解和使用“against”一词，笔者现就把自己在阅读和翻译过程中收集到的“against”在经贸英语中的常见含义、用法和翻译概述以下。
2.“Against”在经贸英语中的常见含义和用法
“Against”在经贸英语中的常见含义和用法除了保留其基本含义和用法之外，还具有不少的引申比喻意义的用法，其含义和用法惟妙惟肖。现将“against”在经贸英语中的常见用法和含义及其翻译技巧逐一概括如下：
2.1 按照、按(in accordance with, according to, as per)
(1) Maybe, you can check the invoice against the contract for me.
也许你能代我将发票按照合同核对一下。
(2) Weight certificate by ... at discharging part to be taken as final with one percent weight allowance against invoice weight.
以……卸货港出具的重量证书为准，允许按发票重量溢短装1％。
2.2 凭据、以……为条件(under the condition of, provided that, subject to)
(1) Upon first presentation the buyers shall pay against documentary draft drawn by the sellers at sight, the shipping documents are to be delivered against payment only.
买方应凭卖方开具的即期跟单汇票，于见票时立即付款，付款后交单。
该条款中两个“against”的用法一致，相当于subject to，以……为条件。第一个“against”说明以卖方开具的即期跟单汇票为付款条件，第二个“against”则说明先付款，然后再交出单证。
(2) So we get payment against a bill of lading and a draft, which the buyer can discount.
所以我们只能凭提单及买主能够贴现的汇票收取货款。
下面再请看两个这方面用法的例子：
Documents against payment (D/A) 付款交单
Documents against acceptance (D/A) 承兑交单
“付款交单”的意思是：documents be tendered to importer subject to his payment （以进口人付清货款为交出货运单据的依据）。
“承兑交单”的意思是：documents be tendered to the importer subject to his acceptance of the draft (以进口人承兑汇票为条件交出货运单据)
2.3 保……险种(against常用在合同保险条款中，后面引出承保的险种)
(1) Marine insurance to be effected by the seller against F.D.A. for invoice amount plus ten percent only, any additional insurance required by the buyer shall be effected by him and at his own expense.
卖方按发票金额加10％投保平安险，买方如需加保，由其自行投保并负担费用。
(2) Seller shall effect marine insurance against All Risks including War Risks.
卖方投保海洋运输终合险及战争险。
2.4 与……比较、同……相比、而……(as compared with)
(1) Against the invoiced weight the consignment was found short of 1,350 kgs.
与发票上开出的重量相比，货物短重1,350公斤。
(2) As against last year, our grain export has increased six percent.
同去年相比，我们的粮食出口增加了百分之六。
(3) Ninety-eight factories have finished the task this season against 60 last season.
本季度有98家工厂完成了任务，而上季度只有60家。
(4) We will have to race against the clock if we want to get ready for the contract by next Monday.
如果我们想在下星期一前做好签订合同的准备，我们就不得不与时间赛跑。
2.5 违反、反对、不要(in violation of, be opposed to)
(1) It is against the contractual stipulations that you failed to open the Letter of Credit 30 days prior to shipment.
你方未能在交货前三十天开据信用证，这是违背合同规定的。
(2) The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of this corporation voted against the investment plan.
这个公司的首席执行官投票反对了该项投资计划。
(3）The general manager warned me against discussing the production quota at the meeting.
总经理警告我，不要在会上讨论生产配额问题。
2.6 与……兑换(尤其指不同货币之间相互兑换的汇率)，以……抵付(in exchange for, pay for)
(1) The rate of Euro against the U.S. Dollar has been appreciating since the eleventh of September, 2001.
欧元对美元的汇率自从2001年9月11日以来一直在上升。
(2) There is a run on gold against US dollars in the world now.
目前世界上出现了以美元兑换黄金的风潮。
(3) He draw a check against all his bank balance.
他开支票支取了他所有的银行余额。
(4) Income against expenditure.
以收抵支。
(5) We will break even in the first quarter of this year if we set our gains against our losses.
如果我们以盈余抵补亏损的话，我们今年第一季度便是不盈不亏。
2.7 对付、应对(in preparations for, in response to)
(1) Fluctuations in exchange rates may be overcome by buying or selling forward exchange,
but against the actions of the governments, like embargoes, a shipper can only protect himself by making special arrangements with his own government.
外汇汇率的波动可以通过买进或卖出远期外汇加以解决，但对付政府的某些行动如禁运，发货人则能同自己的政府作些特别安排以保护自己的利益不受损失。
(2) I誨 like to have some beer to fortify myself against the afternoon work.
我想喝点啤酒，以便有精力应对今天下午的工作。
2.8 避免、防止(on guard against, in prevention of)
(1) A hedge contract cannot guarantee a manufacturer against loss but it can restrict his loss within very narrow limits by averaging out the cost of his raw materials for many months ahead.
套头交易不能担保厂商避免损失，但由于能提前数月算出原料成本，因而可以把厂商的损失限制在极小的范围之内。
(2) The employer warns the contractor against default.
雇主提醒承包商谨防违约。
2.9 仅在……之后、除非(only after..., unless)
(1) Sight draft terms involve less risk, since title to a consignment is only released against payment.
即期汇票条款涉及的风险较少，因为只有在付款后才能获得货物的所有权。
(2) Payment shall be effected against delivery only.
货到之后才能付款。(以上两例中的against相当于only after...)
2.10 向某人……、朝某人……(towards somebody)
(1) ..., the Buyers shall, during the guarantee period, request CCIB to make a survey and shall make a claim against the sellers (including replacement of the goods) and all the expenses incurred there from shall be borne by the sellers.
……，在保证期内，买方应委托中国商检局进行检验，并凭其检验证书向卖方提出索赔（包括换货），由此引起的所有费用应由卖方负担。（这里不能用介词to代替against，向……提出索赔，也可用动词短语claim against somebody）
(2) “I am innocent of all the charges against me” said the chairman of the Board.
董事长说，“对于所有针对我的指控，我都是无辜的”。
2.11 以……为背景、在……背景下(in contrast to)
(1) How can American corporations survive against the backdrop of a sluggish world economy?
美国公司在世界经济萧条的背景下怎样才能幸存下来呢？
2.12 为了、用于(for the purpose of, for the sake of)
(1) The Contractor shall receive 10% (ten percent) advance payment against mobilization upon signing the contract with the Employer. （该条款中的against可理解为for）
承包商在同雇主签订合同后便可获得10%的工程动员预付款。
(2) They prepared a big dinner against the return of the Chief Executive Officer of the corporation.
他们准备了一顿丰盛的晚餐，为公司首席执行官的归来接风。
(3) Keynesians, monetarists and the rational expectations school all agree that the essence of demand-pull inflation is too much speeding beating against a limited supply of goods producible at full employment. (The Economics by Paul. A. Samuelson)
凯恩斯主义者、货币主义者和理论预期学派都同意，需求拉动通货膨胀的实质在于，过多的货币支出追逐在充分就业条件下可生产出来的有限的物品供给。
2.13 与……竞争(vie with somebody for)
(1) The contractors bid against each other on (for) the new project.
承包商们投标相互竞争以取得一项新工程的营造权。
(2) On the other hand, these developments mean that Southeast Asian Countries have to compete against China for export markets and foreign investments.
另一方面，这些发展意味着东南亚国家在出口市场和外国投资方面不得不同中国进行竞争。
2.14 对……不利(be unfavorable for, not in favor of)
(1) Many of these obligations can give rise to problems and complication but a bank customer, unlike, say, a buyer of goods, cannot complain that the law is loaded against him. (New Concept English Book 4)
尽管这些义务可能会发生一些问题和纠纷，但是一个银行客户和譬如说货物的买主就不一样，不能埋怨法律有偏见，对他不利。
(2) Two factors weigh heavily against the effectiveness of scientific research in industry.
有两个因素对于工业界科学研究的成果产生巨大的不利的影响。(New Concept English Book 4)
2.15 涉及、以……有关(concerning, in respect of)
(1) Our intelligence against Iraq has been good. (at a speech delivered by Tony Blair to the U.S. Congress on July 18, 2003)
我们涉及伊拉克的情报是可靠的。
2.16 依赖、依靠(rely on, depend on)
(1) The question now, for Greenspan, was how hard the Federal Reserve could lean against the economy to slow it down, to avoid a drastic series of imbalances. (Bob Woodward: Greenspan誷 Fed and the American Boom.)
对格林斯潘来说，现在的问题是，美联储要依赖经济本身使其过热的势头减慢下来，以避免出现一系列的平衡失调的难度之大。
3. 结论
本文以上举例说明了“against”在经贸英语中的常见含义和用法。要准确理解和正确使用“against”，首先我们要注意与其经常搭配使用的词语及其含义，二要当心其在不同上下文中所具有的不同意思。只有这样，才能把握住“against”在字里行间和上下文中的种种含义和用法，从而准确理解和正确使用该词，最终达到语言交际的目的和成功完成语言交际的任务。
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