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Chapter 1 Meaning of Terms

第一章 术语的含义

1. Contract Defined合同

A contract is a promise or a set of promise for the breach of which the law gives a remedy, or the performance of which the law in some way recognizes as a duty.一个或一组诺言，如果制定法以某种方式规定有义务履行的，或者违反了就会提供救济的，这个或这组诺言就是合同。

2. Promise; Promisor; Promisee; Beneficiary诺言；诺言人；受诺人和受益人

(1)A promise is a manifestation of intention to act or refrain from acting in a specified way, so made as to justify a promisee in understanding that a commitment has been made.所谓诺言，就是对自己行为或不行为的意图的表示，且该表示使受诺人有理由认为诺言人已经承担了某种义务。

(2) The person manifesting the intention is the promisor.意图表示的人为诺言人。

(3)The person to whom the manifestation is addressed is the promisee.意图表示的相对人为受诺人。

(4)Where performance will benefit a person other than the promisee, that person is a beneficiary.受益于合同履行但又不是受诺人的，为受益人。

3.Agreement Defined; Bargained Defined协议的概念；磋商的概念

An agreement is a manifestation of mutual assent on the part of two or more persons. A bargain is an agreement to exchange promises or to exchange a promise for a performance or to exchange performances.所谓协议，就是两个或两个以上的人达成一致的表示。所谓磋商，就是交换诺言、以诺言换取履行、或者交换履行的协议。

4.How a Promise May be Made诺言的做出

A promise may be stated in words either oral or written, or may be inferred wholly or partly from conduct.诺言可以书面或者口头做出，也可以全部或部分从行为推定。

5.Terms of Promise, Agreement, or Contract诺言、协议或合同的条款

(1)A term of promise or agreement is that portion of the intention or assent manifestated which relates to a particular matter.诺言或协议的某一条款，指所表达的意图或一致中与特定事物相关联的部分。

(2) A term of a contract is that portion of the legal relations resulting from the promise or set of promises which relates to a particular matter, whether or not the parties manifest an intention to create those relations.合同的某一条款，指一个或一组诺言产生的法律关系中与特定事物相关的部分，不论当事人是否表达了建立该法律关系的意图。

6. Formal Contracts形式合同

The following types of contracts are subject in some respects to special rules that depend on their formal characteristics and differ from those governing contracts in general:下列合同在某些方面适用特殊规则，注重合同的形式特征，与调整一般合同的规则不同：

    (a) Contracts under seal,盖印合同

    (b)Recognizances,具结

    (c)negotiable instruments and documents可转让票据

    (d)Letters of Credit.信用证

7. Voidable Contracts可撤销合同

A voidable contract is one where one or more parties have the power, by a manifestation of election to do so, to avoid the legal relations created by the contract, or by ratification of the contract to extinguish the power of avoidance.可撤销合同，指合同的一方或多方当事人可以通过行使选择权消灭合同关系，或者通过对合同的确认终止消灭合同关系的权力。

8. Unenforceable Contracts

an unenforceable contract is one for the breach of which neither the remedy of damages nor the remedy of specific performance is available,but which is recognized in some other way as creating a duty of performance, though there has been no ratification.