在一般情况下，“frustration”更多的用来表示“the feeling of being annoyed or less confident because you cannot achieve what you want, or something that makes you feel like this”之义，也就是“挫败”“沮丧”的感觉。但是，在法律层面上，“frustration”有其独特含义，Black’s Law Dictionary 9th Ed对其作出了如下解释：“the prevention or hindering of the attainment of a goal, such as contractual performance”，中文意思是“目的实现受阻”，属于普通法项下有关合同解除的一项原则。

这项原则可以称为合同目的落空原则、合同受挫原则或合约受挫失效原则，是指在由于合同一方当事人不能控制的原因使合同履行的客观目的不复存在时，该当事人的履行义务可被解除。其中，“frustration”分为“commercial frustration”和“temporary frustration”，前者表示“an excuse for a party’s nonperformance because of some unforeseeable and uncontrollable circumstance”，后者表示“an occurrence that prevents performance and legally suspends the duty to perform for the duration of the event”。

就这项原则而言，在合同中可以相关条款进行体现，具体示例如下所示（仅供参考）：

In the event that either party considers that the Contract has been frustrated by any event recognised by law as amounting to frustration, such party shall give notice to that effect to the other party (“the notice of frustration”). The party receiving a notice of frustration shall, within 14 (fourteen) days of receipt, issue a notice to the other party either accepting the notice of frustration (in which case the Contract shall be deemed to have been frustrated on the date of the notice of frustration) or challenging the same. If the party receiving the notice of frustration challenges the same, or fails to respond thereto within 14 (fourteen) days of receipt, a Dispute shall be deemed to have arisen.

若任何一方认为合同因经法律认可属合同目的落空的任何事件而受挫失效，则该方应向另一方发出通知（简称“合同落空通知”）。接收合同落空通知的一方应在收到通知后14（十四）日内向另一方发出通知，表明其接受（在这种情况下，合同应被视为已在合同落空通知之日受挫失效）或拒绝接受该等通知。若接收合同落空通知的一方拒绝接受该等通知，或未在收到通知后14（十四）日内予以回复，则应视为已产生争议。

例句1：

In considering whether any sum ought to be recovered or retained under subsections (1), (2), (3) and (4) by any party to the contract, the court shall not take into account any sums which have, by reason of the circumstances giving rise to the frustration of the contract, become payable to that party under any contract of insurance unless there was an obligation to insure imposed by an express term of the frustrated contract or by or under any enactment.

法院在考虑合约任何一方应否根据第(1)、(2)、(3)及(4)款追讨或保留任何款项时，不得将根据任何保险合约因引致该合约受挫失效的情况而致须支付予该一方的任何款项计算在内，但如该受挫失效的合约内有明订条款规定该一方有投购保险的义务，或任何成文法则规定或根据任何成文法则该一方有投购保险的义务，则属例外。

（来源：《法律修订及改革（综合）条例》（香港法例第23章）第III部第16条第（5）款）

例句2：

Where any contract to which this section and sections 16 and 18 apply contains any provision which, upon the true construction of the contract, is intended to have effect in the event of circumstances arising which operate, or would but for the said provision operate, to frustrate the contract, or is intended to have effect whether such circumstances arise or not, the court shall give effect to the said provision and shall only give effect to section 16 to such extent, if any, as appears to the court to be consistent with the said provision.

如本条以及第16及18条适用的合约内载有任何条文，而在该合约的真实解释下，其用意是于某些会令该合约受挫失效或如无该条文便会令该合约受挫失效的情况发生时该条文会具有效力，或其用意是不论该等情况是否发生该条文均具有效力者，则法院须给予该条文效力，而法院只可在其觉得并无抵触该条文的范围内施行第16条。

（来源：《法律修订及改革（综合）条例》（香港法例第23章）第III部第17条第（3）款）

来源：

Cambridge Dictionary；

Black’s Law Dictionary 9th Ed；

《元照英美法词典》；

https://www.lawinsider.com/；

https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap23!en-sc?INDEX_CS=N