request和require是一组近义、看起来区别不明显的词语，但在起草英文合同或中译英时，这两个词语是否可以无差别适用呢？今天我们就来分析一下。

request 和 require 的含义

这两个词语都有“要求”的意思，在英译中时遇到难度不大，根据上下文语境翻译即可；但在中译英时是否有用法上的区别？首先我们就来看一下这两个词语的英文含义：

request

① to ask formally or courteously for something to be given or done; ② to ask for something, or to ask someone to do something, in a polite or formal way.

因此request更强调“恳求、请求”，即礼貌地、正式地向某人提出请求，要求其做某事，更强调主体之间的平等地位。

require

① to demand something by a law or regulation; ② to make someone do or have something, especially because it is necessary according to a particular law or set of rules.

因此require更强调按照法规、合同等提出的要求和命令。

request 和 require 的用法

我们根据这两个词语经常适用的情形，总结得出这两个词语在用法上的区别：request的动作发出者经常为人；require则经常搭配物，有时主语为人也主要表示依据相关的规定、权利等提出的要求，通过下述例句说明：

1

Seller shall, at the request of Buyer or upon termination or expiration of this Agreement, whichever is sooner, return or destroy any media containing any Buyer Confidential Information.

卖方必须在买方的要求下或在本协议终止或到期时(以最先发生者为准)交还或销毁含有任何买方保密信息的任何媒介。

2

Further, upon one Party’s request, the other Party shall provide the requesting party with a copy of the withholding tax certificate or other applicable documentation.

此外，根据一方要求，另一方应向请求方提供一份代扣代缴税款凭证或其他适用的证明文件的副本。

at the request of sb.及upon one’s request也是request在法律英语中最常见的用法和搭配。

3

Seller must deliver the goods, hand over any documents relating to them and transfer the property in the goods, as required by the Contract and this Convention.

卖方必须按照合同和本公约的规定，交付货物，移交一切与货物有关的单据并转移货物所有权。

4

Party A, at its sole discretion, may conduct random safety inspections, and shall have the right to require immediate correction of non-compliance with the Safety Requirements.

甲方可自主决定对安全情况进行随机检查，且有权要求立即改正不符合安全要求的情况。

5

Service Receiver shall, if required by the Laws of any relevant tax authority, be entitled and/or required to withhold any taxes with respect to amounts payable to Provider under this Agreement as may be required by applicable Laws and deduct such taxes from such amounts prior to remittance to Service Provider.

如有任何相关税务机关的法律要求，服务接收方应有权和/或按要求，扣除本协议项下应付给服务提供方的款项中任何适用法律要求的税款，并在汇款给服务提供方之前从该等应付款金额中扣除该等税款。

as required by law是require在法律英语中最为常见的一种用法。

不知道上述解析是否帮您了解了require和request在法律英语中的区别适用呢？其实在法律英语中，有这样微妙差别的词语还有很多，法律的严谨性也正是从英文合同中这样准确的用词体现出来的。我们也会在日后慢慢和大家一起积累学习，一起进步。

实务法律英语分享

一起分享法律英语的点滴