law在英语中，既表示“法”也表示“法律”。但在处理条例或其他行文规定的时候，我们经常可以接触到the law，a law 或laws等形式，初学者可能会认为里面只是一种单复数的变化，其实不然。表示抽象的、广义的“法”用the law，表示具体的、狭义的“法”用a law 或其复数形式laws。下面举两个例子：

1

Operator shall conduct its activities under this Agreement as a reasonable prudent operator, in a good and workmanlike manner, with duediligence and dispatch, in accordance with good oilfield practice and Customary Manner, and in compliance with applicable Law, but in no event shall it have any liability as Operator to the other Party for losses sustained or liabilities incurred except such as may result from gross negligence or willful misconduct of Operator or any of its Affiliates or their respective officer, partner member, stockholder, director, manager, employee,agent or contractor.

运营方应根据本协议，根据良好的油田开采惯例和惯常方式，按照一个合理审慎的运营人、以良好和符合专业技能的方式、勤勉尽责地进行运营，并符合适用法律，但在任何情况下其作为运营方，不对其他方的损失或责任承担责任，除非因运营方或其任何关联方或他们相应的管理人员、合伙人、成员、股东、董事、经理、雇员、代理人或承包方的重大过失或故意不当行为造成。

2

Each Transaction Document to which the Investor is a party, when executed and delivered by the Investor, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of it, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except (i) as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, and other Laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, and (ii) aslimited by Laws relating to the availability ofspecific performance, injunctive relief, or other equitable remedies.

由投资者作为一方当事人的各份交易文件，在经投资者签署和交付之后，将构成对投资者有效和具有法律约束力的义务，可以根据其条款对投资者强制执行，但下列情形除外：(i)受限于适用的破产、资不抵债、重组、延期偿付或其它普遍影响债权强制执行的法律；以及(ii)受限于与具体履行、禁令救济或其它衡平法上救济措施的可用性有关的法律。

在何勤华等作者编著的《法律名词的起源（上）》这本书里我了解到，“law者，是指定律、定则或原理、原则而言，a law 是指法律的单体，亦即所谓的狭义的法律，the law是指法律全体，亦即所谓广义的法律。”在此相信大家已经对广义和狭义的法律有了更加深入的了解，下面再举俩个例子：

3

Against the law违反法律

4

Party A shall undertake that it has the payment capability to conduct electronic payment business account, and it shall strictly comply with applicable laws and regulations relating to payment and settlement business.

甲方应保证办理电子支付业务账户的支付能力，并严格遵守支付结算业务的相关法律法规。

例3不含任何限定，用单数；例4 laws and regulations是常用短语，后面也经常需要限定某个特定的法律的范围，使用复数。

以上是本次分享的一个小小的学习心得，希望对刚接触到法律翻译或者其他与法律相关的行业的同学们有帮助。