在合同中为约束各合同方之间的权利义务关系，会大量涉及限定合同各方的权利义务关系的内容，我们在进行这些表示权利义务关系的句子翻译时，可以从英语合同中总结出一些共性的表述进行知识迁移，直接应用在合同的中译英实践中。

下面我们就从几例英文合同实例中，来探讨一下英文合同中对于责任义务关系的表述。

例1.

原文：Criminal proceedings could be initiated and conducted only at the prosecutor’s request, and he or she had the legal obligation to prosecute if there was evidence that an offence had been committed, unless the law stipulated otherwise.

参考译文：只有在检察官要求时才可开始和进行刑事诉讼，除法律另有规定外，若有证据表明犯罪属实，检察官有提起诉讼的法律义务。

例1中在表达有义务做某事时，使用了“have the legal obligation to do”这一词组。

例2.

原文：The right can be pursued by all government institutions and those institutions are obliged to provide the requested information to the requesting individuals, as long as the information is unclassified.

参考译文：所有政府机构都可以实践这一权利，并有责任向提出要求的人提供所要求的信息，只要信息是不保密的。

例2中使用了“be obliged to do”来表达“有责任做某事”。

例3.

原文：If the employee is unable to recover payment of compensation from the subsidiary company concerned, the holding company shall be liable to pay the amount to the employee.

参考译文：如果该名雇员不能从有关附属公司取得补偿款额，其控股公司将有责任支付有关款额予该名雇员。

例3中用了词组 “be liable to”来表达有责任做某事。

例4.

原文：Neither party shall be liable for any delay or failure to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement if and to the extent such delay or failure is due to circumstances beyond the reasonable control of such party, including but not limited to, fires, floods, explosions, accidents, acts of God, declared and undeclared wars or riots, strikes, lockouts or other concerted acts of workmen, acts of government, shortages of materials, inability to obtain export or import licenses, or any provision or requirement of the U.S. Export Administration Regulations or any government act, omission, regulation, license, order or rule.

参考译文：对于因双方合理控制能力之外的情况导致的任何延迟或未能执行本协议下规定的任何义务，双方均无需承担任何责任，此处所指的情况包括但不限于火灾、洪水、爆炸、事故、不可抗力、已宣布或未 宣布的战争或暴乱、罢工、停工或工人的其他集体行为、政府行为、原材料短缺、未能获得出口或进口许可、《美国出口管制条例》的任何条款或规定，或任何政府行为、不作为、监管、许可、命令或裁定。

例4中，则使用了“be liable for”来表达对某事负责之意。

例5.

原文：However, one agency will be responsible for establishing and maintaining the framework agreement, and it will be identified as the “procuring entity” for that purpose, as provided for in paragraph (3)(a).

参考译文：不过，将由一个机构负责确立和维持框架协议，如同第(3)款(a)项所规定，就该目的而言，该机构被确定为“采购实体”。

 例5中，使用了我们日常生活中也相当常见的表达“be responsible for”来表示“负责做某事”。

例6.

原文：The Packaging Act also follows the principle of producer’s responsibility, i.e. companies who bring goods to the market in Estonia are under the obligation to ensure the collection and compliant handling of packaging waste and cover all related costs.

参考译文：《包装法》也奉行了生产者负责的原则，也就是说，把商品带到爱沙尼亚市场的公司有义务确保收集和按规定处理包装废物，并负担所有相关费用。

例6中使用了“be under the obligation to do”来表达有义务做某事。 

例7.

原文：Concerning the change in the contribution formula, the representative of the Director-General recalled that it is the responsibility of the Director-General to offer an adequate system of social security for the staff, including medical insurance for the retirees meeting the conditions to maintain their participation in the Medical Benefits Fund.

参考译文：关于纳费公式的变化，总干事代表指出：总干事有责任为工作人员提供充足的社会 保障制度，包括为符合条件的退休人员提供医疗保险，使他们能继续参加医疗保险基金。

例7中的“有责任做某事”则使用了“It is the responsibility of sb. to do sth.”的句型。

综上，我们可以总结出表示“有责任/义务做某事”的几种表达：have the legal obligation to do；be obliged to do；be liable to；be liable for；be responsible for；be responsible to；be under the obligation to do这些词组以及It is the responsibility of sb. to do sth.这个句型。

除此之外，合同中最常用的“shall do sth.”也可以表达这一意思，不过用shall引出的就是必须的、强制性的义务或责任了。