“whereas”在合同中可以译为“鉴于”、“就……而论”，一般用于合同的前言部分的“鉴于条款，用于引导和介绍合同背景、合同目的等，相当于considering， in consideration of 或that being the case等。

例1

WHEREAS, this Agreement is supplemental to an agreement dated 5 December 2009 between the parties (the Principal Agreement) under which the Purchaser agreed to buy certain assets of the Vendor for an aggregate sum of $3 million.

鉴于，本合同系为补充双方当事人此前于2009年12月5日业以缔结之合同（以下简称“主合同”），主合同中买方同意从卖方购买总价值300万美元的资产。

例2

Whereas the Bank has agreed to extend a short-term credit loan for the purpose of providing general working capital to the Company, the Parties thereto do hereby agree as follows:.

鉴于该银行同意向该公司提供短期贷款作为其周转资金之用，双方同意以下各点：。

转载自：译问  作者：旗渡法务中心