consideration是英美法合同中极为重要的词汇。其内涵是一方为换取另一方做某事的承诺而向另一方支付的金钱代价或得到该种承诺的代价。 指当事人一方在获得某种利益时，必须给付对方相应的代价。

 

consideration n.

元照释义：对价

英文释义：something (as an act or forbearance or the promise thereof) done or given by one party for the act or promise of another

 

例 If there has been an offer and an acceptance, a contract is normally created. A promise that is unsupported by consideration ,however, even if accepted, does not create a contract.

【参考译文】一般情况下，若要约与承诺已经存在，则合 同正式成立。但没有对价支持的允诺即使已被接受，合同也不 能成立。

 

香港文件中也会把consideration译为“代价、约因”

例 Under the new section 13I, a trader wrongly accepts payment for a product if, at the time of accepting payment or other consideration for the product, he intends not to supply the product, intends to supply a materially different product, or there are no reasonable grounds for believing that he will be able to supply the product within the period specified by him or within a reasonable period.

【参考译文】根据新增订的第13 I条，如任何商户在就某产品(下称"有关产品")接受付款或其他代价时，该商户意图不供应有关产品， 或意图供应与有关产品有重大分别的产品，或没有合理理由相信该商户将能在所指明的期间内或在合理时间内，供应有关产品，则该商户即属不当地就有关产品接受付款。

 

 

consideration除了单独出现之外，最常见的是good consideration和valuable consideration。

 

good consideration

元照释义：

①道德对价; 情感对价。指纯然基于爱或情感而产生的对价，从而使该人存在道德义务或自然义务。该种对价通常是不可强制执行的[unenforceable ]。亦作“meritorious consideration” 或“moral consideration”。

②有效对价 指足以支持当事 人之间交易的对价即“valuable consideration”

 

英英释义：

1: a consideration based on a family relationship or natural love and affection

2: valuable consideration in this entry

 

valuable consideration

元照释义：

充分对价;有效对价。指根据法律规定属于有效之对价，它既可以是对一方当事人给予某种可用金钱衡量的权利、利益，也可以是另一方承受某种可用金钱衡量的损害、不利益、责任或放弃行使权利。它有时与道德对价[good consideration]相区别。

 

英英释义：

an equivalent or compensation having value that is given for something acquired or promised (such as money or marriage) and that may consist either in a benefit accruing to one party or a loss falling upon the other

 

关于good consideration和valuable consideration的区别，屈老师在《法律英语核心术语：实务基础》中，如是说：

good consideration的意思是“出于亲属之间的爱、感 情或道义责任上的考虑，而承诺提供利益或移交财产，受益人 不得请求强制执行承诺 ”与该短语对应的是valuable consideration ,也就是"有值约因"。 —般而言good consideration和 valuable consideration的区别就在于前者无真正的对价支持，后者指一方付出有价值的代价，能换取对方的承诺或作为。前者 不应被视为真正的对价。因此，无真正对价支持的合同也就没有强制执行力。

 

翻译过程中可能会遇到 good and valuable consideration，个人感觉译为“有效且有值对价”比较好。

 

参考

《元照英美法词典》

《法律英语核心术语：实务基础》（屈文生）

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consideration#legalDictionary

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consideration#legalDictionary

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/valuable%20consideration

https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E5%AF%B9%E4%BB%B7

https://www.linguee.com/english-chinese/search?source=auto&query=consideration