📚 Legal Terminology Quick-Memorisation Guide | 法律词汇术语速记指南
Welcome to your first law vocabulary toolkit. In this guide, you will learn the essential terms that every Year 7 Cambridge law student needs to master, with clear explanations, memorable examples, and simple tricks to lock each word in your mind. Whether you dream of becoming a barrister or just want to understand how rules shape our world, this guide will give you a head start.
欢迎使用你的第一本法律词汇工具箱。在这份指南中，你将学习每一位 Year 7 剑桥法律学生都需要掌握的基础术语，配合清晰的解释、好记的例子和简单的速记技巧，让每个单词都牢牢记在脑中。无论你梦想成为一名出庭律师，还是只想了解规则如何塑造我们的世界，这份指南都会让你赢在起跑线上。
1. Understanding the Basics – Law vs. Rule | 基础概念：法律与规则的区别
A law is a set of official rules created by the state that applies to everyone in a country, and breaking a law can lead to punishment in court. A rule, on the other hand, is a guideline made by smaller groups (like a school or family) that applies only to members of that group.
法律是由国家制定的、适用于国内所有人的正式规则，违反法律可能会在法庭上受到惩罚。而规则是由较小团体（如学校或家庭）制定的指导方针，只适用于该团体的成员。
Example: Stealing a phone is breaking a law, so you could be arrested. Wearing trainers on a no-trainers day at school breaks a school rule, not a law.
例子：偷手机是违法，你可能会被逮捕。在学校禁止穿运动鞋的日子里穿运动鞋，是违反了校规，而不是法律。
Quick memory trick: Think of 'law' as a locked door that applies to everyone outside, while a 'rule' is a house rule inside one home.
速记诀窍：把“法律”想象成一扇对门外所有人都上锁的门，而“规则”只是一所房子里的家规。
2. Two Main Branches of Law | 法律的两大分支
Law is usually divided into criminal law and civil law. Criminal law deals with actions that harm society, like theft or assault. Civil law deals with disputes between individuals or organisations, such as contract problems or family matters.
法律通常分为刑法和民法。刑法处理危害社会的行为，如盗窃或袭击。民法处理个人或组织之间的纠纷，例如合同问题或家庭事务。
Criminal case example: The prosecution brings a case against a defendant accused of shoplifting. Civil case example: A person sues a shop for selling faulty shoes and asks for compensation.
刑事案例：控方对一名被指控入店行窃的被告提起诉讼。民事案例：一个人因商家出售有问题的鞋子而起诉该店，要求赔偿。
| Criminal Law (刑法) | Civil Law (民法) |
|---|---|
| Offends the whole community | Solves private disagreements |
| Punishment: fine, prison, community order | Remedy: compensation, injunction |
| Standard of proof: beyond reasonable doubt | Standard of proof: on the balance of probabilities |
| Parties: prosecution vs. defendant | Parties: claimant vs. defendant |
3. Key Courtroom Roles | 关键法庭角色
In a criminal court, the judge oversees the trial and ensures fairness, while the jury (in serious cases) decides guilt. The barrister presents arguments in court, wearing a wig and gown in traditional courts. The solicitor usually prepares the case outside court.
在刑事法庭中，法官监督审判并确保公正，而陪审团（在严重案件中）决定是否有罪。出庭律师在法庭上陈述论点，在传统法庭上戴着假发、穿着长袍。事务律师通常在法庭外准备案件。
Claimant (civil) is the person who brings a claim. Defendant is the person who must answer the claim or charge. Witness gives evidence about what they saw or heard.
原告（民事）是提起诉讼的人。被告是必须回应主张或指控的人。证人对自己所见所闻提供证据。
- Judge – 法官
- Barrister – 出庭律师
- Solicitor – 事务律师
- Jury – 陪审团
- Claimant – 原告
- Defendant – 被告
- Witness – 证人
Memory aid: The judge sits in the middle (like the head), the parties face each other, and the jury panel sits on the side – think of it as a courtroom theatre.
记忆辅助：法官坐在中间（像首领），双方对面而坐，陪审团坐旁边——把法庭想象成一座剧院。
4. The Trial Process Vocabulary | 审判流程词汇
A trial begins with an opening statement, where each side outlines its case. Then evidence is presented through witnesses and documents. Examination-in-chief is when a party questions its own witness; cross-examination is when the other party questions that witness.
审判以开场陈述开始，双方概述各自的案件。然后通过证人和文件出示证据。主询问是一方询问自己的证人；交叉询问是另一方对该证人提问。
After all evidence is heard, both sides make closing arguments. The judge then gives directions to the jury, who retire to deliberate and return with a verdict. A verdict is the decision whether the defendant is guilty (criminal) or liable (civil).
听完所有证据后，双方进行结案陈词。法官随后向陪审团发出指令，陪审团退庭商议并带着裁决回来。裁决是对被告是否有罪（刑事）或负有法律责任（民事）的决定。
Sentence is the punishment given after a guilty verdict. In civil cases, the judge awards a remedy. Acquittal means the defendant is found not guilty.
判刑是有罪裁决后给予的惩罚。在民事案件中，法官判给补救措施。无罪释放意味着被告被判无罪。
5. Types of Offences | 犯罪类型术语
English law divides crimes into summary offences (less serious, tried in a magistrates' court, e.g. minor traffic offences), either-way offences (can be tried in either magistrates' or crown court, e.g. theft), and indictable offences (serious, tried in a crown court, e.g. murder).
英格兰法律将犯罪分为简易程序罪行（较轻微，由治安法院审理，例如轻微交通违规），可任意审判罪行（可在治安法院或刑事法院审理，例如盗窃），以及可公诉罪行（严重，由刑事法院审理，例如谋杀）。
Actus reus is the guilty act, and mens rea is the guilty mind. Both are usually required to prove a crime. For example, pushing someone (the act) with the intention to hurt them (the mind) makes an assault.
犯罪行为是罪行中的行为要素，犯罪意图是罪行中的心理要素。通常需要两者同时存在才能证明一项罪行。例如，故意推人并想伤害对方，就构成了袭击。
Strict liability offences require no mens rea – just the act itself is enough, like selling food past its use-by date.
严格责任犯罪不需要犯罪意图——只要行为本身存在就足够了，例如销售过期食品。
6. Rights and Duties | 权利与义务
A right is something you are entitled to, such as the right to education or the right to a fair trial. A duty is something you must do, like paying taxes or serving on a jury if called. Rights often come with corresponding duties.
权利是你有权享有的东西，比如受教育的权利或获得公正审判的权利。义务是你必须做的事情，比如纳税或在被要求时担任陪审员。权利常常伴随着相应的义务。
Human rights are basic rights for all people, protected by laws like the Human Rights Act 1998 in the UK. Legal rights arise from specific laws, e.g. the right to vote at a certain age. Moral rights are based on fairness, but may not be enforceable in law.
人权是所有人的基本权利，受到诸如英国1998年《人权法案》等法律保护。法定权利源自具体法律，比如达到一定年龄后享有投票权。道德权利以公平为基础，但在法律上不一定可强制执行。
Key phrase: 'You have the right to remain silent'. This means you don't have to answer police questions, but your silence may affect your defence later.
关键用语：“你有权保持沉默。”这意味着你不必回答警方问题，但你的沉默可能稍后影响你的辩护。
7. Key Latin Terms in Legal English | 法律英语中的关键拉丁词
Many legal words come from Latin. Habeas corpus means 'you shall have the body' – a court order that a detained person must be brought before a judge. Ultra vires means 'beyond powers'; an act done without legal authority is invalid.
很多法律词语来自拉丁语。人身保护令（habeas corpus）意为“你必须将被拘禁者带到法庭”——这是一种法院命令，要求将被拘留者带到法官面前。越权行为（ultra vires）意为“超出权限”；没有法律授权做出的行为是无效的。
Stare decisis – 'to stand by things decided' – the principle that judges should follow past decisions (precedent). Obiter dicta are remarks 'said by the way' in a judgment, not binding but can be persuasive.
遵循先例（stare decisis）——“坚持已决之事”——即法官应当遵循以往判决（先例）的原则。附带意见（obiter dicta）是判决中“顺带说的”话，没有约束力但可能有说服力。
| Latin Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Habeas corpus | Produce the body |
| Ultra vires | Beyond powers |
| Stare decisis | Stand by decided matters |
| Obiter dicta | Things said by the way |
8. How Laws Are Made | 法律是如何制定的
In the UK, Parliament makes laws called Acts or statutes. The process starts with a Bill, which is a draft law. A Bill goes through both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, receiving multiple readings and a committee stage before it can become law.
在英国，议会制定称为法令或成文法的法律。这个过程始于法案，即法律草案。一项法案需经过下议院和上议院，接受多次宣读和委员会审议阶段，才能成为法律。
Royal Assent is the monarch's formal approval – today a formality. Once an Act is in force, courts interpret it. Judges also make law through precedents when they decide cases and give reasons; this is called common law.
御准是君主的正式批准——如今只是一种形式。一旦法令生效，法院就对其进行解释。法官在判案并给出理由时，通过先例也创制法律；这称为普通法。
Delegated legislation (or secondary legislation) is law made by a body other than Parliament, under authority given by an Act, like local council by-laws or health regulations.
授权立法（或次级立法）是由非议会机构在法令授权下制定的法律，例如地方议会的细则或卫生法规。
9. Sources of Law | 法律渊源
The two main sources of English law are statute law (made by Parliament) and common law (judge-made law). Equity is a set of legal principles that developed historically to provide fairness where common law was too rigid; remedies like injunctions come from equity.
英格兰法律的两大渊源是制定法（议会制定）和普通法（法官造法）。衡平法是一套法律原则，历史上为弥补普通法过于僵硬的不足而发展起来，以提供公正；像强制令这样的救济措施就来自衡平法。
European Union law and international treaties also used to be important, but after Brexit, UK law is the supreme source. The Human Rights Act 1998, however, incorporates the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law.
欧盟法律和国际条约曾经也很重要，但在英国脱欧后，英国法律是最高渊源。然而，1998年《人权法案》将《欧洲人权公约》纳入了英国法律。
Customs – long-standing practices – can sometimes be a source of law, like the right of way over a certain path if it has been used for many years.
习惯——长期存在的做法——有时可以成为法律渊源，例如，如果一条小径已被使用多年，就可能产生通行权。
10. Contracts and Agreements | 合同与协议术语
A contract is a legally binding agreement between two or more parties. For a contract to exist, there must be an offer, acceptance, consideration (something of value exchanged), intention to create legal relations, and capacity.
合同是两个或以上当事人之间具有法律约束力的协议。合同成立需要具备要约、承诺、对价（交换的有价值之物）、设定法律关系的意图以及行为能力。
Breach of contract means failing to do what the contract says. Remedies include damages (money compensation), specific performance (forcing the party to do what they promised), or injunction (order to stop doing something).
违约指未能按合同要求行事。救济措施包括损害赔偿（金钱补偿）、特定履行（迫使一方按承诺行事）或禁制令（命令停止某种行为）。
Void contract – no legal effect from the start (e.g. an illegal deal). Voidable contract – valid unless one party chooses to cancel it (e.g. signed under pressure).
无效合同——自始没有法律效力（例如非法交易）。可撤销合同——除非一方选择取消，否则有效（例如在压力下签署）。
11. Citizens and the State | 公民与国家词汇
Citizenship means being a legal member of a country with rights like voting and abode. The state refers to the country's government and its institutions that enforce laws. The rule of law is the principle that everyone, including the government, must obey the law.
公民身份意味着是一个国家的法定成员，享有投票和居留等权利。国家指该国的政府及其执行法律的机构。法治是要求所有人（包括政府）都必须遵守法律的原则。
Constitution is the set of rules by which a country is governed. The UK has an uncodified constitution made up of statutes, common law, conventions, and works of authority, unlike the USA's single written document.
宪法是一套治理国家的规则。英国有一部不成文宪法，由制定法、普通法、惯例和权威著作组成，不像美国那样是一份单一的书面文件。
Judicial review is the process by which courts check whether actions of public bodies are lawful. If a decision is found ultra vires or unreasonable, the court can quash it.
司法审查是法院检查公共机构行为是否合法的程序。如果一项裁定被认定为越权或不合理，法院可以将其撤销。
12. Quick Memory Tricks | 速记诀窍
Use acronyms: For the elements of a contract, remember OACIC – Offer, Acceptance, Consideration, Intention, Capacity. For criminal liability, AM – Actus reus + Mens rea.
使用首字母缩略词：合同要素记住 OACIC——要约、承诺、对价、意图、行为能力。刑事责任记 AM——犯罪行为 + 犯罪意图。
Picture a courtroom in your mind: the judge up front, the jury in a box, the witnesses in a stand, and the two sides at benches. Label each in your mental image with the terms you've learned. Recalling the visual layout makes the words stick.
在脑海中想象一个法庭：法官在前面，陪审团在陪审团席，证人在证人席，双方坐在律师席。在心里给每个位置贴上你学过的术语标签。回忆这个视觉布局会让词语牢固记住。
Link Latin terms to modern English: 'Habeas corpus' sounds like 'have the body', and that's exactly what it orders. 'Stare decisis' sounds like 'stay with the decision' – a perfect match.
把拉丁词和现代英语联系起来：“Habeas corpus”听起来像“have the body”（交出身体），而这正是它的命令。“Stare decisis”听起来像“stay with the decision”（坚持裁决）——完美匹配。
Finally, practise using the words in sentences every day: 'The defendant gave evidence under oath.' 'Parliament passed a new statute.' The more you use legal vocabulary, the faster it becomes second nature.
最后，每天在句子中练习使用这些词：“被告在宣誓后作证。”“议会通过了一项新法令。”你越多使用法律词汇，它们就会越快成为你的第二天性。
Published by TutorHao | Law Revision Series | aleveler.com
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