Synonyms are such words with almost identical or similar meanings. In some cases, the synonymous words can be replaced each other without affecting the meaning. Nevertheless, some philologists claim that no synonyms have exactly the same meaning. The most of synonymous words are just similar in meaning but have different usage and translation.

We shall pay attention to them when translating synonymous words. Here are some examples of synonyms. Bargain, Compact, Contract and Deal are synonymous words with similar meaning of “合同”, but we cannot translate them all as “合同” without considering the context. Now let’s look at the following sentences for reference.

Bargain, Compact, Contract, Deal

Bargain 契约，合同

You should keep the bargain.

你应当遵守所订契约。

Let’s strike a bargain on that.

此事就这样一言为定吧。

Tom made a bargain with his wife.

Tom 与妻子已经讲好了条件。

Henry finally reached a bargain with the antique dealer over the lamp.

Henry 终于和这位古董商谈妥了关于购买此灯的条件。

Compact 契约，合同

They made a compact to control opium traffic.

他们制定了一项管制烟片走私活动的协定。

The two countries made a compact to co-operate against terrorism.

两国签署了反恐合作协议。

Contract 合同，契约

The supper was a contract business, and therefore the more he ate, the better the bargain was.

晚饭是包伙制，吃多吃少都一样花钱，因此，他吃得越多越划算。

He is under contract to teach here for two years.

按招聘合约，他要在这里教两年书。

The contract still holds.

该契约仍然有效。

They agreed to sign the contract.

他们同意签订此合同。

They want to break the contract.

他们企图撕毁合同。

The two countries plan to negotiate the contract.

两国计划就此条约进行谈判。

Deal 交易，密约

The two men have made a deal.

这两个人做了一笔交易。

The two legislators have made a deal: “logrolling”.

这两位议员做了一笔交易：“互相捧场”。

“I’ll drink to that,” he said, “and a wedding two years hence. Is that a deal?”

“我愿意为这个干杯，”他说道，“也愿意为两年后的婚礼干杯。一言未定？”