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【Abstract】As the main communication method， business English correspondence takes the critical role of written evidence， so the lexical meaning of business English words must be accurate， understandable and normative， or the inconvenience and damages will be taken. This paper analyses the lexical features of business English correspondence and offers a pointed translation method on the basis of it by using examples to give the illustration.
【Key words】business English； English correspondence； lexis； lexical translation； method
1. Lexical features of business English correspondence
（1） Accuracy：
Accuracy is the important lexical feature of business English correspondence. This feature manifests the use of numeral-classifier compounds and technical terms and jargons. Business English correspondence including enquiries， offers， and bids， counter-offers and counter-counter offers， orders， contract and so on. So， the numerals used in passage must be accurate， concrete and ambiguity should be avoided.
（2） Polite expression and Conciseness：
In business English correspondence， there are a large number of polite expressions are used to impress the readers with good image and to conclude transactions smoothly （Li Tengyu 64-66）.
Except for including formal words and jargons， there are many spoken words such as short sentences and expressions with modifiers in business English correspondence， which are efficient.
（3） Formality：
In despite of the spoken and modern words used in business correspondence， it belongs to the official files. So， formal， informal and common phrases included together in business English correspondence. In addition， compound words such as “hereby”“hereto”“hereafter”“thereafter” are used to show the formality feature.
2. Translation of business English correspondence
2.1 Omitting the articles
There are no articles in Chinese. So， omitting the articles can be used as translation method. For example：
①We trust you will give this enquiry your immediate attention and let us have your reply at a early date.
我们相信你方会对此询盘加以重视， 盼即复。
②We are large dealers in textiles and believe there is a promising market in our area for moderately priced goods of the kind mentioned.
我行是經营纺织品的主要经营商， 如上述这类商品价格公道， 相信在这里会获得畅销。（Liao Ying 89）
2.2 Omitting the verbs
There are so many verbs in business English correspondence only to form the verbal phrases and indicate the meaning and they usually have no definite meaning in phrases. So， we can omit the verbs’ meaning and translate the noun phrases into Chinese verbs. For example： ①Delivery must be effected within the time stated on the purchase order.
②In reply to your letter of 21st “November， we have pleasure in enclosing a detailed quotation for bathroom showers.” （Ye yulong， Wang wenhan， and Duan yunli 71）.
In the first sentence， the verb “effect” used its passive voice and it should match “delivery” to form “effect delivery”， meaning “交货”. So the sentence can be translated into “必须在订单规定时间内交货”。In the second sentence， the phrase “have pleasure in doing sth.” means that “高兴做某事”， so the meaning of this sentence can be translated as “我们乐于随函附寄浴室淋浴器的详细报价”.
2.3 Amplify the categorized words
In business English correspondence， we often see the words with general and vague connotation， which could be understood in different ways. For example：
①The export is not permitted to exceed its limitation.
出口物资不得超出限制范围。
②Before settling your prices， you must understand your product’s market， distribution costs and competition.
定價前，你需要了解你方产品市场、经销成本和竞争情况。
③Your Corporation’s representatives asked that additional details be sent to your corporation for future consideration.
贵公司的代表要求我们寄送更为详细的资料以便做进一步的考虑。
Above these three sentences， the words “export” “limitation” “competition” are abstract words. Put the word “detail” as the example， in Chinese， it means “细节”， but which “细节” it refers to is not clear. So if we categorize the word as “资料” “详细的资料”， it will make the sentence more specific and clear according to the original.
3. Conclusion
The research is expected to shed light on the teaching and study of business English correspondence written by the professionals in the field of foreign trade. But， for the time is limited， the discussion may sometimes be subjective and regarding the changing features of language in different areas， the validity of discussions may be fully changed.
References：
[1]李腾宇.论外贸英语书信及函电中的词汇特征[J].郑州煤炭管理干部学院学报，1999（9）：64-66.
【Key words】business English； English correspondence； lexis； lexical translation； method
1. Lexical features of business English correspondence
（1） Accuracy：
Accuracy is the important lexical feature of business English correspondence. This feature manifests the use of numeral-classifier compounds and technical terms and jargons. Business English correspondence including enquiries， offers， and bids， counter-offers and counter-counter offers， orders， contract and so on. So， the numerals used in passage must be accurate， concrete and ambiguity should be avoided.
（2） Polite expression and Conciseness：
In business English correspondence， there are a large number of polite expressions are used to impress the readers with good image and to conclude transactions smoothly （Li Tengyu 64-66）.
Except for including formal words and jargons， there are many spoken words such as short sentences and expressions with modifiers in business English correspondence， which are efficient.
（3） Formality：
In despite of the spoken and modern words used in business correspondence， it belongs to the official files. So， formal， informal and common phrases included together in business English correspondence. In addition， compound words such as “hereby”“hereto”“hereafter”“thereafter” are used to show the formality feature.
2. Translation of business English correspondence
2.1 Omitting the articles
There are no articles in Chinese. So， omitting the articles can be used as translation method. For example：
①We trust you will give this enquiry your immediate attention and let us have your reply at a early date.
我们相信你方会对此询盘加以重视， 盼即复。
②We are large dealers in textiles and believe there is a promising market in our area for moderately priced goods of the kind mentioned.
我行是經营纺织品的主要经营商， 如上述这类商品价格公道， 相信在这里会获得畅销。（Liao Ying 89）
2.2 Omitting the verbs
There are so many verbs in business English correspondence only to form the verbal phrases and indicate the meaning and they usually have no definite meaning in phrases. So， we can omit the verbs’ meaning and translate the noun phrases into Chinese verbs. For example： ①Delivery must be effected within the time stated on the purchase order.
②In reply to your letter of 21st “November， we have pleasure in enclosing a detailed quotation for bathroom showers.” （Ye yulong， Wang wenhan， and Duan yunli 71）.
In the first sentence， the verb “effect” used its passive voice and it should match “delivery” to form “effect delivery”， meaning “交货”. So the sentence can be translated into “必须在订单规定时间内交货”。In the second sentence， the phrase “have pleasure in doing sth.” means that “高兴做某事”， so the meaning of this sentence can be translated as “我们乐于随函附寄浴室淋浴器的详细报价”.
2.3 Amplify the categorized words
In business English correspondence， we often see the words with general and vague connotation， which could be understood in different ways. For example：
①The export is not permitted to exceed its limitation.
出口物资不得超出限制范围。
②Before settling your prices， you must understand your product’s market， distribution costs and competition.
定價前，你需要了解你方产品市场、经销成本和竞争情况。
③Your Corporation’s representatives asked that additional details be sent to your corporation for future consideration.
贵公司的代表要求我们寄送更为详细的资料以便做进一步的考虑。
Above these three sentences， the words “export” “limitation” “competition” are abstract words. Put the word “detail” as the example， in Chinese， it means “细节”， but which “细节” it refers to is not clear. So if we categorize the word as “资料” “详细的资料”， it will make the sentence more specific and clear according to the original.
3. Conclusion
The research is expected to shed light on the teaching and study of business English correspondence written by the professionals in the field of foreign trade. But， for the time is limited， the discussion may sometimes be subjective and regarding the changing features of language in different areas， the validity of discussions may be fully changed.
References：
[1]李腾宇.论外贸英语书信及函电中的词汇特征[J].郑州煤炭管理干部学院学报，1999（9）：64-66.