business、commerce、trade、bargain与deal这些名词均含“贸易、交易”之意。
business : 指包括售货、购货、换货在内的综合商业活动,方式可以是批发或零售。
- My brother's in business.
我哥哥经商。 - He's in the frozen food business.
他做冷冻食品生意。 - Our firm does a lot of business with overseas customers.
我们公司与海外客户的生意往来很多。
commerce : 多指大规模的买卖或易货关系。
- the world of commerce and industry
工商界 - leaders of industry and commerce
工商界领导人
trade : 普通用词,含义广。既可指某种具体的商业又可指广泛的贸易。
- The country's trade in manufactured goods has expanded in the last ten years.
该国的工业品贸易在最近10年里扩大了规模。 - 70 percent of the country's trade is with Europe.
该国70%的贸易是和欧洲进行的。
bargain : 多指买卖双方通过谈判、协商就商品质量、数量、价格等项达成协议所成的生意。
- The treaty was based on a bargain between the French and German governments.
这个条约是以法国和德国政府之间的一个协议为基础的。 - "I'll clean the kitchen if you clean the car." "OK, it's a bargain."
“如果你洗车我就打扫厨房。”“好,就这么定了!”
deal : 口语用词,指买卖双方经过交涉达成协议成交。
- a business deal
商业交易 - The unions and management have made a two-year pay and productivity deal.
工会和管理层签订了一份为期两年的工资与生产效率协议。 - I'll make/do a deal with you - you wash the car and I'll let you use it tonight.
我和你做个交易吧——你把车洗了,今晚就让你用。