Abstract: English business letters are the major means of communication in the international trade. The quality of their writing will directly influence business of the enterprise. Because of their unique features as a formal communication and functions of contacting business, due attention should be paid to politeness in the whole process of translations. Through a comprehensive and systematic analysis and comparison, this paper argues that the principle of politeness should be adhered to in English business letter translation. Also presented in this paper are specific methods used under this principle.

Key words: English business letter translation, principle of politeness, international trade

摘要：商务英语信函是国际贸易双方进行书面商务信息沟通的主要手段,其成功与否对企业的业务有着极其重要的影响。而商业信函用语正式的特点和联络生意的功能决定了商业信函翻译必须注重礼貌原则。本文通过对商务信函特点的分析和大量翻译实例的比较，论述商务信函翻译应坚持的礼貌原则，并归纳出礼貌原则应用的具体运用方法。

关键词：商务英语信函翻译,礼貌原则,国际贸易