👉 选择语言
In Business English, tiny words decide big outcomes. Shall is one of those words.
Schoolbooks often say shall = will. Real business doesn’t. In contracts, emails, and at the negotiating table, using (or avoiding) 将 changes meaning, leverage, and risk.
Key takeaways (read this first)
- 在 contracts, 将 traditionally signals a binding obligation on the subject (The Buyer shall pay…). Many modern drafters replace it with 必须 for clarity. World Institute on DisabilityGOV.UKHolland & Knight
- 在 everyday business English, 将 is rare (except fixed polite British offers like Shall we begin?). Prefer will / should / would in speech and email.
- 在 EU legislation, shall (not) still appears to impose duties and prohibitions in English versions of legal acts; be careful translating. European Commission
- Use a decision matrix: 必须 = obligation, will = future fact/promise, 可以 = discretion/permission, 应 = recommendation, 将 = (only if your style guide allows) obligation on the subject. World Institute on DisabilityGOV.UKAdams on Contract Drafting
1) What grammar says vs what business needs
Traditional grammar: 将 once marked the future with I/we; will 与 you/he/she/they. In modern usage, will dominates and 将 is rare outside formal/legal contexts.
Business reality: modern drafting and government style guides in the US and UK recommend avoiding legislative 将; use 必须 for obligations because it’s clearer and harder to misuse. World Institute on DisabilityGOV.UK
EU note (English text): EU legislative English still uses shall not for prohibitions and 将 in some duty formulas; check the latest EU English Style Guide before changing legacy language. European Commission
2) The decision matrix (use this when you draft)
- MUST — duty/obligation (best plain-English choice in many jurisdictions and corporate styles).
- The Supplier 必须 deliver within 10 days.
- UA: Постачальник зобов’язаний поставити протягом 10 днів.
- RU: Поставщик обязан поставить в течение 10 дней.
- WILL — future fact, promise, or allocation of risk (not an obligation by itself).
- 付款方式 will occur by wire transfer.
- UA: Оплата відбудеться банківським переказом.
- RU: Оплата будет осуществлена банковским переводом.
- MAY — discretion/permission (don’t use for obligations).
- The Buyer 可以 inspect the Goods within 5 days.
- UA: Покупець має право оглянути Товар протягом 5 днів.
- RU: Покупатель вправе осмотреть Товар в течение 5 дней.
- SHOULD — recommendation/best practice (not enforceable on its own).
- The Parties 应 promptly notify material changes.
- UA: Сторонам варто невідкладно повідомляти про істотні зміни.
- RU: Сторонам следует незамедлительно сообщать об существенных изменениях.
- SHALL — use only if your style guide requires/permits it, and only to impose duty on the subject (avoid shall be for future facts). Adams on Contract Drafting
- The Buyer 将 pay the Price by 30 September.
- UA: Покупець зобов’язаний сплатити Ціну до 30 вересня.
- RU: Покупатель обязан уплатить Цену до 30 сентября.
Why this matrix?
US federal and UK parliamentary guidance: prefer 必须 越过 将 to impose duty; reserve will for futurity/facts. This reduces disputes over whether a clause was merely predictive. World Institute on DisabilityGOV.UK
3) Contract hotspots where 将 breaks (and how to fix)
- Obligation vs future fact
- Weak: The Parties will comply with all applicable laws.
- Strong: The Parties 必须 comply with all applicable laws. (or 将, if required) World Institute on Disability
- “Shall be liable” vs clear allocation
- Vague: The Seller shall be liable for defects.
- Clear: The Seller is liable for defects that… / The Seller 必须 indemnify the Buyer against…
- Prohibitions
- Risky: The Supplier may not disclose Confidential Information.
- Safer: The Supplier must not disclose… 或 …shall not disclose… (for EU legislative English). European Commission
- Entitlements
- Wordy: The Buyer shall be entitled to a refund if…
- Clean: The Buyer 可以 receive a refund if… / The Buyer is entitled to a refund if…
- “Shall ensure / shall procure that” (common in English law)
- Often better as: The Supplier must ensure that its Subcontractors comply with… (Avoid bare shall procure that unless your house style requires it.)
- Definitions & recitals
- Don’t use 将 in definitions/recitals: those sections describe reality, not duties. Use present simple: “Agreement” 办法…
🔎 Background and style guidance on dropping legislative 将 in favor of 必须: US Federal Plain Language Guidelines; UK drafting guidance. For contracts, see Ken Adams’ analysis of using 将 只是 to impose duty on the subject. World Institute on DisabilityGOV.UKAdams on Contract Drafting
4) Emails, meetings, trade fairs: what sounds right
British offers (polite/formulaic):
- Shall we begin? / Shall I send the draft?
American/neutral alternatives: - Should we get started? / Would you like me to send the draft?
Avoid in speech/email:
- We shall discuss it tomorrow. → sounds stiff.
- Prefer: We’ll discuss it tomorrow. / Let’s discuss it tomorrow.
Micro-translation tip (offer → permission):
- Shall we schedule the site visit? →
- UA: Можемо запланувати виїзд на об’єкт?
- RU: Можем запланировать выезд на объект?
5) EU/UK/US/Ukraine — how styles collide
- US (gov’t & many corporates): drop 将, use 必须 for duties; will for future facts. World Institute on Disability
- UK (legislation office): policy is to avoid legislative 将; there may be legacy exceptions. GOV.UK
- EU legislative English: still uses shall/shall not in many provisions; check the current EU English Style Guide before redrafting legacy EU-derived text. European Commission
- Ukraine (translation practice): map must/shall → зобов’язаний / має; map 可以 → має право; prefer present for facts (is liable, is entitled) to avoid mixing obligation with prediction.
Practical rule for cross-border contracts: pick one obligation verb across the document (必须 或 将, per house style) and use it consistently; reserve will strictly for non-obligatory futurity. This mirrors best-practice drafting guidance and reduces ambiguity. World Institute on DisabilityAdams on Contract Drafting
6) Translator’s corner (micro-glossary with context)
- shall / must (duty) → UA: зобов’язаний / має; RU: обязан
- will (future fact/promise) → UA: буде / відбудеться; RU: будет / состоится
- may (permission) → UA: має право; RU: вправе
- must not / shall not (prohibition) → UA: не має права / забороняється; RU: не вправе / запрещается (choose per doc style) European Commission
7) Mini-workshop for your learner (5 minutes)
- Rewrite to impose obligation (not prediction):
- The Distributor will submit monthly reports. → must/shall submit…
- Turn a prohibition that uses may not into a clear ban:
- The Consultant may not share… → must not / shall not share…
- Fix this “entitlement spaghetti”:
- The Buyer shall be entitled to be given a refund… → The Buyer is entitled to a refund…
8) Quick audit checklist (before you sign)
- One obligation verb across the document (必须 或 将) — no mixing. World Institute on DisabilityAdams on Contract Drafting
- Prohibitions use must not / shall not不是 may not, unless your legislative style requires otherwise. European Commission
- Facts use is/are/will不是 shall be.
- Entitlements use is entitled to / may不是 shall be entitled to.
- Definitions/recitals have 没有 将.
- Email & speech avoid stiff 将; use natural offers/requests.
9) Further reading (authorities & style guides)
- US: Federal Plain Language Guidelines — “use 必须 instead of shall.” World Institute on Disability
- UK: Drafting guidance (Bills for Parliament) — policy “avoid the legislative ‘shall’.” GOV.UK
- EU: English Style Guide (2025) — notes on using shall not for prohibitions. European Commission
- Contracts practice: Ken Adams on disciplined use of 将 in contracts. Adams on Contract Drafting
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