在英文中这几个词都是用来表达“依法”“守法”的动词，确切一点说，主要用于表达“守法”的概念。后两个词（keep和follow）的语域非常低，很少用在法律文本中。最正式的表达“守法”概念的是abide by，其次是observe。例如：

中华人民共和国公民必须遵守宪法和法律，保守国家机密，爱护公共财产，遵守劳动纪律，遵守公共秩序，尊重社会公德。（《中华人民共和国宪法》第五十三条）Citizens of the People’s Republic of China must abide by the Constitution and the law, keep state secrets, protect public property and observe labour discipline and public order and respect social ethics.

In addition to abiding by national laws, members of the garrison shall abide by the laws of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. (Basic Law of Hong Kong, Article 14) 驻军人员除须遵守全国性的法律外，还须遵守香港特别行政区的法律。

从以上这两个权威文本的选词上可以悟出专家们在使用这些专门法律词汇时的倾向：如果要表达“依法”“守法”这个概念，最好用正式程度较高的abide by（abide by the Constitution and the law）；而“守规矩”“守约”，即遵守强制性略逊或语体正式程度略低的命令、指令、判令、规定、规则、规范、原则、准则（如道德）、纪律等时，可以用observe（observe labour discipline and public order）或comply with。虽然该两组词意思相同，译成汉语同为“遵守”，在英文中有时也可以互相替代，但绝对不是在每一种情况下都是等同的，这种差别在同一个语境的用词搭配比较中可以清楚地显现。《中华人民共和国公司法》的译者在其译文中也能将两者用法的不同区别得清清楚楚：

第五条 公司从事经营活动，必须遵守法律、行政法规，遵守社会公德、商业道德，诚实守信，接受政府和社会公众的监督，承担社会责任。Article 5 In conducting its business, a company must abide by laws and administrative rules and regulations, observe social morals and business ethics, conduct businesses in good faith, subject itself to the supervision of the government and the public and fulfill social responsibilities.

虽然原文用了两个“遵守”，但译成英文时，一个译为abide by，另一个译成observe。主要原因是“法律”“法规”的强制性程度要高于“社会公德”和“商业道德”。但这并不是说对法律或规章的“遵守”一定要用abide by而不能用observe或comply with。下文要求租客遵守的就是“规章制度”，而所用的动词却是observe与keep：

The rules and regulations contained in this lease are hereby made a part of and incorporated into this lease and Tenant shall observe the same. Failure to keep and observe said rules will constitute a material breach of the terms of this lease, in the same manner as if contained herein as covenants, anda failure to observe the same shall be of the same effect. Tenant shall keep and observe such further rules and regulations as may be required by Landlord or its agent from time to time which Landlord may deem necessary for the proper and orderly care of the building of which the Premises are a part. （李克兴，2008）

如果用 abide by 去取代以上条款中的四个observe，就等于“杀鸡用了牛刀”——用的词太大了，虽然语法上没有问题。相比较而言，与 keep 或 observe 搭配使用的宾语词的重要性一般较低，换言之，倘若违反或者“不遵守”，后果不是特别严重，一般都算不上“犯法”或刑事 犯罪。从以上例子中，我们还可以观察到一个法律词汇的特点：observe 可以与同义词 keep 连用，形成一个法律英文中的配对词；它也可以与 comply with 或者 obey 连用，形成另外一组也只表达“遵守”一层意思的同义配对词。例如：

Executive shall observe and comply with Viewpoint’s material policies, rules and regulations regarding the performance of his duties, shall use his reasonable best efforts, skills and abilities to promote Viewpoint’s interests and shall perform his duties faithfully, competently and in such manner as Viewpoint’s Chief Executive Offi cer and Board of Directors (the “Board”) may from time to time reasonably direct.

Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, each party to this Agreement shall, at its own cost and expense, obey and comply with all applicable Laws, as they may pertain to such party’s performance of its obligations hereunder.

就以上例句中出现的配对词的翻译而言，基本原则是合二为一，译成“遵守（相关的政策、规章或法规）”即可；没有必要翻译成“遵守及遵从（相关的政策、规章或法规）”。在法律英文中，使用这类配对词算是一种语言风格（但有些过时）；但在中文的法律语言中，我们尚未发展出这么一种语言风格——虽然在汉语的文学类语体中，同义反复可以看成是一种强调或增添句子韵律的语言风格或修辞手段，但在法律文本的写作中（不包括翻译）使用这类同义反复的修辞手段只能算是画蛇添足。

参考:李克兴＜法律翻译　译注评＞