两个单词均用于表示一种财产的代管方式。bailment为“寄托”，是指根据明示或默示合同把动产交付给某人的行为。构成寄托，必须由特定动产的所有者或委托人把实际的或推定的占有权转移给另一人（bailee受寄托人），以便后者按要求方式进行处置，然后要返回原物，或以改变了的形式进行返回[1]。而 trust为“信托”，指财产或法定权利的所有人（即信托人）将财产或权利交给另一个或另几个人，后者据此为另一方（受益人）、其他人或为某一特定目的或几个目的而持有财产和行使权利[2]。信托应由明示建立，其方式如下：由法律建立、由生前宣布而建立、由遗嘱建立或由法律的实施而产生，后者又包括推定信托和结果信托两种。
 
[1]“An arrangement in which one person transfers possession (but not ownership ) of personal property to another for storage. The legal rights and duties of the parties depend upon the purpose and terms of the bailment. The bailee may be storing the bailor's goods for a fee. ”Cf. James E. Clapp, Random House Webster's Dictionary of the Law, at p. 46,
Random House (2000).

[2] “Any arrangement whereby property is transferred with intention that it be administered by trustee for another's benefit. A fiduciary relationship in which one person is the holder of the title to property subject to an equitable obligation to keep or use the property for the benefit of another. ”Cf. The Publishers Editorial Staff, Black's Law Dictionary, abridged 6th edition, at p. 1047，West Publishing Co. (1991).