📚 Pre-U WJEC Law: Vocabulary & Terminology Quick-Memorisation Guide | 法律词汇术语速记指南
Mastering legal vocabulary is the first step to thinking like a lawyer. This guide breaks down the essential terms you need for your Pre-U WJEC Law course, pairing every English definition with its Chinese equivalent and offering memorable explanations to help you retain them for exams.
掌握法律词汇是像律师一样思考的第一步。本指南梳理了 Pre-U WJEC 法律课程必备的核心术语，每个英文定义都配有对应的中文释义和易于记忆的讲解，帮你为考试做好充分准备。
1. Criminal Law Fundamentals | 刑法基要术语
The foundation of criminal liability rests on two Latin pillars — actus reus and mens rea — along with causation and strict liability. Grasping these concepts unlocks the whole of criminal law.
刑事责任的基石建立在两个拉丁语支柱上—— actus reus 和 mens rea——再加上因果关系和严格责任。掌握这些概念就能打开整个刑法的大门。
Actus reus means the guilty act. It must be a voluntary physical act or omission where a duty exists. Mens rea refers to the guilty mind, such as intention, recklessness or negligence.
Actus reus 指犯罪行为，必须是自愿的身体行为或存在义务时的不作为。Mens rea 指犯罪心理，比如故意、轻率或过失。
| English Term | 中文术语 | Quick Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Actus Reus | 犯罪行为 | The external element of a crime / 犯罪的外部要素 |
| Mens Rea | 犯罪意图 | The mental element of a crime / 犯罪的主观要素 |
| Causation | 因果关系 | The link between act and consequence / 行为与结果之间的联系 |
| Strict Liability | 严格责任 | Crimes requiring no mens rea for at least part of the actus reus / 至少部分行为要素不需犯罪意图的犯罪 |
To establish causation, use the 'but for' test (factual causation) and check that the defendant’s act was a substantial and operating cause (legal causation). There must be no novus actus interveniens (new intervening act).
要确立因果关系，使用“若非”检验（事实因果关系）并检查被告的行为是否属于实质且有效的原因（法律因果关系）。必须不存在新的介入行为 (novus actus interveniens)。
Strict liability offences often concern public safety, such as selling alcohol to a minor. Even if the defendant took all reasonable steps, they can still be guilty.
严格责任犯罪通常涉及公共安全，例如向未成年人出售酒精。即使被告已采取所有合理措施，仍可能被判有罪。
2. Homicide Offences | 杀人罪
Homicide covers murder, voluntary manslaughter and involuntary manslaughter. The key differentiator is the defendant’s state of mind.
杀人罪包括谋杀、自愿性误杀和非自愿性误杀，关键区分在于被告的心理状态。
Murder requires an intention to kill or cause grievous bodily harm. The classic definition is "unlawful killing of a reasonable creature in being under the Queen’s peace with malice aforethought".
谋杀 需要具有杀人或造成严重身体伤害的意图。经典定义为“在国王/女王治下，恶意预谋地非法杀害一个正常存活的人”。
Voluntary manslaughter arises when murder is reduced due to a special defence: loss of control (formerly provocation), diminished responsibility or suicide pact.
自愿性误杀 发生在谋杀因特殊辩护理由而被减轻的情况：失控（原为挑衅）、减轻责任或自杀协定。
Involuntary manslaughter includes unlawful act manslaughter (a dangerous unlawful act causes death) and gross negligence manslaughter (a duty of care is breached in a criminally grossly negligent way).
非自愿性误杀 包括非法行为误杀（一个危险的非法的行为导致死亡）和重大过失误杀（以刑事上重大过失的方式违反了注意义务）。
A common exam pitfall is confusing the tests for each type. Remember: for constructive (unlawful act) manslaughter, the act must be objectively dangerous and the defendant must have the mens rea for that underlying unlawful act.
考试常见的一个误区是混淆各类型的检验标准。记住：对于推定（非法行为）误杀，该行为必须客观上危险，且被告必须具备对该基础非法行为的犯罪意图。
3. Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person | 非致命人身侵害
These offences are laddered by severity, from assault and battery up to grievous bodily harm with intent. The main statute is the Offences Against the Person Act 1861.
这些罪名按严重程度递升，从恐吓、殴击到蓄意造成严重身体伤害。主要制定法是《1861年人身侵害法》。
Assault is causing the victim to apprehend immediate, unlawful personal violence. Battery is the actual application of unlawful force. Both are common law offences.
恐吓 指使受害人产生即将遭受非法人身暴力的恐惧。殴击 指实际施加非法武力。两者都是普通法罪行。
Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH) under s.47 requires the base offence (assault or battery) that causes injury more than transient or trifling.
造成实际身体伤害的恐吓 (s.47) 要求先成立基础罪行（恐吓或殴击），并且造成超出轻微或短暂的伤害。
Malicious wounding or inflicting grievous bodily harm (GBH) under s.20 and wounding/causing GBH with intent under s.18. The s.18 offence carries a life sentence and requires specific intent.
恶意伤人或者造成严重身体伤害 (s.20) 与 蓄意伤人/蓄意造成严重身体伤害 (s.18)。s.18 罪行可判终身监禁，且需要特定故意。
- s.39 Criminal Justice Act 1988: Common assault and battery – 普通恐吓与殴击
- s.47 OAPA 1861: ABH – 实际身体伤害
- s.20 OAPA 1861: GBH / wounding without intent – 无蓄意的严重身体伤害/伤害
- s.18 OAPA 1861: GBH / wounding with intent – 蓄意的严重身体伤害/伤害
A handy mnemonic is "ABC" Battery → ABH → GBH → GBH with Intent. The ladder goes up as injury and mens rea increase.
一个便捷的助记法是 "ABC"：恐吓 → 殴击 → 实际身体伤害 → 严重身体伤害 → 蓄意严重身体伤害。伤势和犯罪意图越重，罪名等级越高。
4. Property Offences | 财产犯罪
Property offences are governed mainly by the Theft Act 1968 and the Fraud Act 2006. Understanding the exact definitions prevents costly exam mistakes.
财产犯罪主要由《1968年盗窃法》和《2006年欺诈法》规制。精准把握定义能避免代价高昂的考试错误。
Theft is defined under s.1 as the dishonest appropriation of property belonging to another with the intention of permanently depriving the other of it. All five elements must be proved.
盗窃 按照s.1的定义，是指以永久剥夺他人财产为目的，不诚实地侵占他人财产。必须证明五个构成要件全部成立。
Robbery (s.8) is theft accompanied by the use or threat of force immediately before or at the time of stealing. It is essentially a theft plus an assault.
抢劫 (s.8) 是指在盗窃的同时，在盗窃之前即刻或盗窃之时使用或威胁使用武力。本质上就是盗窃加恐吓。
Burglary under s.9 has two forms: entering a building as a trespasser with intent to steal, inflict GBH or do unlawful damage (s.9(1)(a)), or having entered as a trespasser, actually stealing or attempting to steal or inflicting/attempting to inflict GBH (s.9(1)(b)).
入室盗窃 按照s.9有两种形式：以侵入者身份进入建筑物并意图盗窃、造成严重身体伤害或进行非法毁坏 (s.9(1)(a))；或者以侵入者身份进入后实际盗窃或企图盗窃，或造成/企图造成严重身体伤害 (s.9(1)(b))。
Fraud by false representation (s.2 Fraud Act 2006) requires dishonesty, a representation that is false and an intent to make a gain or cause loss. The representation can be express or implied.
虚假陈述欺诈 (2006年欺诈法 s.2) 要求具备不诚实、虚假陈述以及意图为自己或他人谋取利益或造成损失。陈述可以是明示的，也可以是默示的。
5. Defences in Criminal Law | 刑事辩护理由
Defences either negate the offence entirely (complete defences) or reduce liability (partial defences). The burden of proof may shift to the defendant.
辩护理由要么完全否定犯罪成立（完全辩护），要么减轻责任（部分辩护）。举证责任可能转移给被告。
Insanity is based on M'Naghten Rules: at the time of the act, the defendant was labouring under a defect of reason from a disease of the mind, so that they did not know the nature and quality of the act or did not know it was wrong.
精神错乱 基于 M'Naghten 规则：行为时，被告因精神疾病导致理性缺失，以致不了解行为的性质和属性，或不知道行为是错的。
Automatism refers to an external factor causing a total loss of voluntary control, such as a blow to the head or an unforeseen reaction to medication.
自动症 指由外部因素导致完全丧失自主控制，例如头部受击或由药物引起的不可预见的反应。
Intoxication can be voluntary or involuntary. Involuntary intoxication may negative mens rea, while voluntary intoxication is only a defence to specific intent crimes if it negates intention.
醉酒 可分为自愿和非自愿。非自愿醉酒可能否定犯罪意图，而自愿醉酒只有在能否定特定故意犯罪中的故意时才构成辩护理由。
Self-defence and Duress are general defences. Self-defence requires honest belief in the need for reasonable force. Duress requires a threat of death or serious injury and no reasonable avenue of escape.
自我防卫 和 胁迫 是一般辩护理由。自我防卫要求诚实地相信需要使用合理的武力。胁迫则要求存在死亡或严重伤害的威胁，并且没有合理的逃避途径。
6. Contract Formation | 合同构成
A binding contract requires offer, acceptance, consideration and an intention to create legal relations. Contracts do not need to be in writing unless required by statute.
一个具有约束力的合同需要要约、承诺、对价以及设立法律关系的意图。除非法律另有规定，合同不一定要以书面形式订立。
Offer is an expression of willingness to contract on certain terms made with the intention that it will become binding upon acceptance. It must be distinguished from an invitation to treat.
要约 是以某种条件缔结合同的意思表示，并意图一经承诺即具有约束力。必须将其与要约邀请区分开。
Acceptance must mirror the offer and be communicated. The postal rule states that acceptance by post is effective on posting, not on receipt.
承诺 必须与要约一致并传达给对方。邮寄规则规定，通过邮寄的承诺在投寄时即生效，而不是在收到时。
Consideration must be something of value in the eyes of the law, moving from the promisee, but it need not be adequate. Past consideration is not good consideration.
对价 必须是法律上认可的有价值之物，由受诺人提供，但不要求足够（等价）。过去的对价不是有效的对价。
Intention to create legal relations is presumed in commercial contexts but not in domestic or social agreements, unless evidence shows otherwise.
设立法律关系的意图 在商业语境中通常被推定存在，但在家庭或社交协议中则不然，除非有相反证据。
7. Contract Terms and Vitiating Factors | 合同条款与效力瑕疵
Terms determine the parties’ obligations; vitiating factors can make a contract void or voidable. Distinguishing between a term and a mere representation is critical.
条款决定了双方当事人的义务；效力瑕疵因素可能使合同无效或可撤销。区分条款与单纯的陈述至关重要。
Conditions are fundamental terms: breach entitles the innocent party to terminate and claim damages. Warranties are minor terms: breach gives rise only to damages.
条件 是根本性条款，违反它使无过错方有权解除合同并索赔。保证 是次要条款，违反它只产生损害赔偿请求权。
Misrepresentation is a false statement of fact that induces a party to enter a contract. It can be fraudulent, negligent or innocent, and may lead to rescission and/or damages.
虚假陈述 是一方作出的不实事实陈述，诱使另一方签订合同。它可以是欺诈性的、过失性的或无意的，并可能导致解除合同和/或损害赔偿。
Mistake can render a contract void at common law if it is fundamental and shared. Duress (economic pressure) and Undue Influence (abuse of a relationship) make contracts voidable.
错误 在普通法下，如果是根本性且双方共同的错误，可使合同自始无效。胁迫（经济压力）和 不当影响（利用关系滥用）使合同可撤销。
8. Tort of Negligence | 侵权法过失
The tort of negligence is the largest area of tort law. To succeed, a claimant must prove duty of care, breach, causation and damage that is not too remote.
过失侵权是侵权法中范围最广的领域。原告必须证明注意义务、违反义务、因果关系以及损害并非过于遥远。
Duty of care was established in Donoghue v Stevenson: you must take reasonable care to avoid acts or omissions which you can reasonably foresee would be likely to injure your neighbour. The modern Caparo three-stage test looks at foreseeability, proximity and whether it is fair, just and reasonable to impose a duty.
注意义务 确立于 Donoghue v Stevenson 案：你必须采取合理注意，避免那些你能合理预见到可能会伤害邻人的作为或不作为。现代 Caparo 三步检验关注可预见性、近因性以及施加义务是否公平、公正和合理。
Breach is assessed by the objective standard of the reasonable person, considering probability of harm, seriousness of risk, practicality of precautions and social utility of the activity.
义务违反 以合理人的客观标准来评定，并考虑损害发生的概率、风险的严重性、采取预防措施的可行性以及活动的社会效益。
Causation uses the 'but for' test and checks if the damage is too remote (the Wagon Mound test: was the type of damage reasonably foreseeable?).
因果关系 采用“若非”检验，并检查损害是否太遥远 (Wagon Mound 检验：损害类型是否可合理预见？)。
9. Occupiers’ Liability and Nuisance | 占有人责任与妨扰
Occupiers’ liability governs the duty owed by occupiers to visitors and trespassers. The two key statutes are the 1957 Act (visitors) and the 1984 Act (trespassers).
占有人责任规定占有人对访客和侵入者所负的义务。两部关键制定法是《1957年占有人责任法》（访客）和《1984年占有人责任法》（侵入者）。
Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957: Occupiers owe the 'common duty of care' to all lawful visitors to keep them reasonably safe for the purpose of their visit. Children and skilled workers may attract a modified duty.
1957年占有人责任法： 占有人对所有合法访客负有“普通注意义务”，须在其访问目的范围内使其合理地安全。儿童和专业工人可能适用修订后的义务。
Occupiers’ Liability Act 1984: A more limited duty is owed to trespassers only if the occupier is aware of the danger, knows a person may be in the vicinity and the risk is one which the occupier may reasonably be expected to offer some protection against.
1984年占有人责任法： 仅在占有人知悉危险、知道有人可能在附近且可以合理期待其提供某些保护时，才对侵入者承担更有限的义务。
Private nuisance is an unlawful interference with a person’s use or enjoyment of land. It must be unreasonable and typically involves noise, smells, or encroachment.
私人妨扰 是对他人使用或享用土地的不法干涉。它必须是不合理的，通常涉及噪音、气味或侵占。
10. Legal Latin and Maxims | 法律拉丁语及格言
Legal Latin appears throughout case law and exams. Memorising key phrases impresses examiners and sharpens your analysis.
法律拉丁语遍布判例法和考试。记住关键用语能给考官留下深刻印象并使你的分析更加犀利。
| Latin Phrase | 中文 | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Actus non facit reum nisi mens sit rea | 无犯意则无犯罪 | The act does not make a person guilty unless the mind is also guilty |
| Novus actus interveniens | 新的介入行为 | A new intervening act breaking the chain of causation |
| Res ipsa loquitur | 事实本身说明问题 | The thing speaks for itself (in tort evidence) |
| Volenti non fit injuria | 同意不生损害 | To a willing person, injury is not done (defence of consent) |
| Obiter dictum | 附带意见 | A judge's statement made in passing, not binding |
| Ratio decidendi | 判决理由 | The legal principle of a case, binding on lower courts |
When writing essays, use "ratio" and "obiter" correctly to show you understand precedent. For causation, always mention the Latin chain-breaking concept.
写作论文时，准确地使用“ratio”和“obiter”以展示你理解判例拘束力。对于因果关系，一定要提及打断因果链的拉丁概念。
11. Memory Techniques for Legal Terms | 法律术语记忆技巧
Use active recall and visual mnemonics to fix definitions in long-term memory. Here are a few proven strategies for law students.
运用主动回忆和视觉助记法将定义固定到长期记忆中。以下是几个法律专业学生行之有效的策略。
Acronyms: For the five elements of theft, create a sentence like "Daring Aunts Please Uncle Sam" (Dishonesty, Appropriation, Property, Belonging to another, Intention to permanently Deprive).
首字母缩略词： 对于盗窃的五个要素，编一个句子，比如“大方的阿姨取悦山姆大叔” (不诚实、侵占、财产、属于他人、永久剥夺意图)。
Ladder diagrams: lt → Battery → ABH → GBH s.20 → GBH s.18. The higher the rung, the greater the punishment.
阶梯图： 将非致命人身侵害的层级想象成梯子，每级标上 Assault → Battery → ABH → GBH s.20 → GBH s.18。梯级越高，刑罚越重。
Flowcharts for defences: Draw a decision tree: “Was there a loss of control? → Yes → Was there a qualifying trigger? → Yes → Might amount to voluntary manslaughter.”
辩护理由流程图： 画一个决策树形图：“是否存在失控？→ 是 → 是否存在适格触因？→ 是 → 可能构成自愿性误杀。”
Link the Latin: Attach vivid images to Latin phrases; for instance, imagine a giant “Novus Actus” hand snapping a chain (of causation).
关联拉丁语： 给拉丁语短语配上生动的画面；比如，想象一只巨大的“Novus Actus”之手啪的一声掰断一条锁链（因果关系链）。
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