📚 GCSE Cambridge Law: Key Terminology Quick Revision Guide | GCSE 剑桥法律：词汇术语速记指南
Mastering legal terminology is the first step towards success in GCSE Cambridge Law. This guide presents essential terms in paired English and Chinese explanations, designed for rapid memorisation and clear understanding. Each section focuses on a core concept, breaking down definitions into digestible, bilingual points so you can learn faster and retain more effectively.
掌握法律术语是迈向 GCSE 剑桥法律课程成功的第一步。本指南以中英对照的方式呈现核心必备词汇，专为快速记忆与清晰理解而设计。每个小节围绕一个核心概念，将定义拆分为易于消化的双语要点，帮助你学得更快、记得更牢。
1. Actus Reus | 犯罪行为
Actus reus refers to the physical element of a crime, meaning the guilty act itself. It can be an action, a failure to act (omission), or a state of affairs. For example, in theft, the actus reus is the physical taking of someone else's property.
犯罪行为（actus reus）指犯罪的客观要素，即有罪的行为本身。它可以是一个作为、不作为（疏忽）或某种状态。例如，在盗窃罪中，犯罪行为是实际拿走他人财产的行为。
Omission only counts as actus reus when there is a legal duty to act, such as a parent's duty to care for a child. In murder, the actus reus is the unlawful killing of a human being. The prosecution must prove that the defendant's conduct was voluntary.
只有当存在法律上的作为义务时，不作为才构成犯罪行为，例如父母对子女的照顾义务。在谋杀罪中，犯罪行为是非法杀害他人。控方必须证明被告的行为是自愿的。
Key Latin phrase to memorise: actus reus means 'guilty act'. Remember it must be a voluntary physical act or a legally required omission. Without actus reus, no crime can be established.
需要记住的关键拉丁短语：actus reus 意为“有罪行为”。记住，它必须是一个自愿的身体行为或法律要求的不作为。没有犯罪行为，犯罪就无法成立。
2. Mens Rea | 犯罪意图
Mens rea is the mental element of a crime, often called the 'guilty mind'. It refers to the defendant's state of mind at the time of the act. Different crimes require different levels of mens rea, such as intention, recklessness, or negligence.
犯罪意图（mens rea）是犯罪的心理要素，通常被称为“有罪心理”。它指的是被告在行为时的心理状态。不同的犯罪要求不同程度的犯罪意图，例如故意、轻率或疏忽。
Intention is the highest level, where the defendant desires a specific consequence. Recklessness means the defendant foresaw a risk of harm and unreasonably took that risk. Negligence is a lower standard, where the defendant's conduct fell below what a reasonable person would do.
故意是最高层级，被告希望发生特定后果。轻率意味着被告预见到伤害风险却无理由地冒了该风险。疏忽是较低的标准，即被告的行为低于一个合理的人会做出的标准。
us must usually coincide in time for a conviction. Know the Latin: mens rea = guilty mind.
对于严格责任犯罪，至少一个犯罪要件不需要犯罪意图；仅行为本身就足够了。犯罪意图和犯罪行为通常必须在时间上重合才能定罪。记住拉丁语：mens rea = 有罪心理。
3. Common Law and Statute Law | 普通法与成文法
Common law is judge-made law developed through decisions in courts over centuries. It relies on the doctrine of precedent, where lower courts follow higher court rulings. Statute law, on the other hand, is law passed by Parliament and written down in Acts.
普通法是由法官在数世纪中通过法庭判例发展而来的法律。它依赖先例原则，即下级法院遵循上级法院的裁决。而成文法是由议会通过并以法案形式写成的法律。
Much of criminal law and contract law in England still has its roots in common law, though many areas have now been put into statutes. Equity developed alongside common law to provide fairer remedies when common law was too rigid, introducing concepts like trusts and injunctions.
英格兰的许多刑法和合同法仍根植于普通法，虽然许多领域现已被写入成文法。衡平法与普通法并行发展，在普通法过于僵化时提供更公平的救济，引入了信托和禁令等概念。
ges use to interpret statute law. Remember: common law = case law, statute law = Acts of Parliament.
当成文法与普通法冲突时，成文法优先，因为议会具有主权。字面规则和填补漏洞规则是法官解释成文法的工具。记住：普通法 = 判例法，成文法 = 议会法案。
4. Precedent and Stare Decisis | 先例与遵循先例
Judicial precedent operates on the principle of stare decisis, meaning 'to stand by things decided'. Courts must follow the legal principles set in earlier similar cases, unless the facts can be distinguished. This promotes consistency and fairness in the law.
司法先例遵循“遵循先例”（stare decisis）的原则，意为“遵照已决事项”。法院必须遵循先前类似案件中确定的法律原则，除非案件事实可以区分。这促进了法律的一致性和公正性。
The ratio decidendi is the binding part of a judgment — the legal reason for the decision. Obiter dicta are comments made 'by the way' and are not binding but can be persuasive. Only the ratio creates a precedent that lower courts must follow.
判决理由（ratio decidendi）是判决中具有约束力的部分——即裁决的法律理由。附带意见（obiter dicta）是“顺便”发表的评论，不具有约束力，但可以有说服力。只有判决理由能创造下级法院必须遵循的先例。
cisions generally, with limited exceptions. Know the hierarchy: Supreme Court → Court of Appeal → High Court → Crown/County Courts → Magistrates.
最高法院（原上议院）位于顶端，其裁决对所有下级法院具有约束力。上诉法院通常受自身先前裁决的约束，但有少数例外。掌握法院层级：最高法院 → 上诉法院 → 高等法院 → 刑事/郡法院 → 治安法院。
5. Civil Law vs Criminal Law | 民法与刑法
Civil law deals with disputes between individuals or organisations, where the claimant sues the defendant. The aim is usually to obtain a remedy, such as damages or an injunction. The standard of proof is on the balance of probabilities — more likely than not.
民法处理个人或组织之间的纠纷，由原告起诉被告。目的通常是获得救济，例如损害赔偿或禁令。证明标准是盖然性权衡——即可能性大于不可能性。
Criminal law involves the state prosecuting an individual for conduct deemed harmful to society. The aim is to punish and deter, with sanctions including imprisonment and fines. The prosecution must prove the case beyond reasonable doubt.
刑法涉及国家对个人因被认定为危害社会的行为提起诉讼。目的是惩罚和威慑，制裁包括监禁和罚款。控方必须排除合理怀疑地证明案件。
Examples of civil cases: negligence claims, contract disputes, family law matters. Criminal cases include theft, assault, and murder. Remember the two tests: balance of probabilities (civil) versus beyond reasonable doubt (criminal).
民事案例举例：过失索赔、合同纠纷、家庭法事务。刑事案例包括盗窃、袭击和谋杀。记住两种检验标准：盖然性权衡（民事）对比排除合理怀疑（刑事）。
6. Contract Law Essentials | 合同法要件
A contract is a legally binding agreement. For a contract to exist, there must be an offer, acceptance, consideration, intention to create legal relations, and capacity. Each of these elements must be present; missing any one makes the agreement unenforceable.
合同是具有法律约束力的协议。要使合同成立，必须存在要约、承诺、对价、建立法律关系的意图和缔约能力。每个要素都必须具备；缺少任何一个都会导致协议无法执行。
An offer is a clear statement of the terms on which the offeror is willing to be bound. It must be distinguished from an invitation to treat, which is merely an invitation to negotiate, such as goods on a shelf. Acceptance must be unconditional and communicated to the offeror.
要约是要约人愿意受约束的条款的明确声明。必须与要约邀请相区分，后者仅仅是谈判的邀请，例如货架上的商品。承诺必须是无条件的并且传达给要约人。
Consideration is the price paid for the promise — something of value exchanged between the parties. It need not be adequate, but it must be sufficient. Past consideration is not valid. Intention to create legal relations is presumed in commercial agreements but not in social or domestic ones.
对价是为换取承诺而付出的代价——双方之间交换的有价值的东西。对价无须价值对等，但必须具有法律价值。过去的对价无效。建立法律关系的意图在商业协议中推定存在，但在社交或家庭协议中则不然。
7. Negligence and Duty of Care | 过失与注意义务
Negligence is a tort in civil law. To succeed in a negligence claim, the claimant must prove that the defendant owed them a duty of care, breached that duty, and caused damage that was not too remote. This three-part test comes from the famous case of Caparo v Dickman.
过失是民法中的一种侵权。要在过失索赔中胜诉，原告必须证明被告对其负有注意义务、违反了该义务，并造成了并非过于遥远的损害。这个三步检验标准源自著名的 Caparo v Dickman 案。
The neighbour principle from Donoghue v Stevenson states that you must take reasonable care to avoid acts or omissions which you can reasonably foresee would injure your neighbour. Your neighbour is anyone closely and directly affected by your actions.
源自 Donoghue v Stevenson 案的邻人原则规定，你必须采取合理的注意，避免你能合理预见到会伤害邻人的作为或不作为。你的邻人是指任何受到你行为密切和直接影响的人。
Breach of duty is measured against the standard of the reasonable person. Professionals are held to the standard of a reasonable professional in that field. Causation requires both factual causation (the 'but for' test) and legal causation (no novus actus interveniens).
违反义务以合理人的标准衡量。专业人士以其所在领域合理专业人士的标准来要求。因果关系既需要事实因果关系（“若无则不”检验），也需要法律因果关系（无新的介入行为）。
8. Sources of Law | 法律渊源
The primary sources of English law are statutes (Acts of Parliament), common law (judicial precedents), and retained EU law. Secondary sources include textbooks, academic writings, and law commission reports, which may influence but are not binding.
英格兰法律的主要渊源是成文法（议会法案）、普通法（司法先例）和保留的欧盟法律。次要渊源包括教科书、学术著作和法律委员会报告，它们可能具有影响力但不具约束力。
Delegated legislation is law made by bodies other than Parliament, under authority given by a Parent Act. Types include Orders in Council, statutory instruments, and by-laws. This allows detailed rules to be made quickly but raises concerns about democratic oversight.
授权立法是由议会以外的机构根据授权法授予的权力制定的法律。类型包括枢密院令、行政法规和地方法规。这使得详细的规则能够迅速制定，但也引发了民主监督方面的担忧。
The doctrine of parliamentary sovereignty holds that Parliament can make or unmake any law. However, membership in the European Union (pre-Brexit) and the Human Rights Act 1998 have modified this principle in practice. Know the hierarchy of sources clearly.
议会主权原则认为，议会可以制定或废除任何法律。然而，欧盟成员身份（脱欧前）和《1998年人权法》在实践中修改了这一原则。要清晰地了解法律渊源的层级。
9. Criminal Defences | 刑事辩护
Even when actus reus and mens rea are present, a defendant may avoid liability by raising a defence. Common defences include self-defence, duress, necessity, insanity, and automatism. Some are complete defences leading to acquittal, while others reduce the offence.
即使存在犯罪行为和犯罪意图，被告也可以通过提出辩护来避免责任。常见的辩护包括自我防卫、胁迫、紧急避险、精神失常和自动化行为。有些是完全辩护，可导致无罪释放，有些则降低罪行等级。
Self-defence allows the use of reasonable force to protect oneself or another, or to prevent crime. The force must be proportionate to the threat as the defendant honestly perceived it. Duress arises when a person is forced to commit a crime by threat of death or serious injury.
自我防卫允许使用合理的武力保护自己或他人，或防止犯罪。武力必须与被告真诚认知的威胁相称。胁迫发生在一个人因死亡或严重伤害威胁而被迫犯罪的情形。
Intoxication is not a defence if it is voluntary, unless it negates a specific intent element (e.g., murder reduced to manslaughter). Involuntary intoxication may provide a defence if it prevents the formation of mens rea. Learn the specific limits of each defence carefully.
自愿醉态不构成辩护，除非它否定了特定意图要件（如将谋杀降为误杀）。非自愿醉态如果妨碍了犯罪意图的形成，则可能提供辩护。仔细学习每种辩护的具体限制。
10. Legal Personnel and Courts | 法律人员与法院
Barristers and solicitors are the two main types of lawyers in England and Wales. Barristers specialise in advocacy and provide specialist legal opinions, while solicitors advise clients and prepare cases. Judges are appointed from experienced lawyers and preside over court proceedings.
大律师和事务律师是英格兰和威尔士的两类主要律师。大律师专长于法庭辩护并提供专业法律意见，事务律师则为客户提供建议并准备案件。法官从经验丰富的律师中任命，主持法庭程序。
Magistrates are unpaid volunteers who hear less serious criminal cases in the Magistrates' Court. Juries consist of 12 randomly selected citizens who decide the facts in serious criminal cases in the Crown Court. The judge directs them on the law.
治安法官是义务志愿者，在治安法院审理较轻微的刑事案件。陪审团由12名随机抽取的公民组成，在刑事法院对严重刑事案件的事实作出裁决。法官就法律问题给予指导。
The civil court structure starts with the County Court and High Court, with appeals going to the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. Tribunals handle specialist disputes like employment and immigration. Remember: no jury in civil cases except in rare defamation or similar trials.
民事法院结构从郡法院和高等法院开始，上诉可至上诉法院和最高法院。审裁处处理就业和移民等专业纠纷。记住：民事案件除极少数诽谤等审判外，没有陪审团。
Published by TutorHao | Law Revision Series | aleveler.com
更多咨询请联系16621398022（同微信）
或截图后用「扫一扫 → 相册」选择本图