📚 Year 8 WJEC Law: Vocabulary Terminology Quick Memorisation Guide | Year 8 WJEC 法律：词汇术语速记指南
Understanding legal vocabulary is essential for success in Year 8 WJEC Law. Law has its own language, full of precise terms that describe rights, duties, crimes, and the justice system. This guide presents key terms in a bilingual, easy-to-remember format, helping you build a strong foundation for future legal studies. Let's start building your legal lexicon with simple explanations and memory aids.
掌握法律词汇是 Year 8 WJEC 法律取得好成绩的关键。法律拥有自己的一套语言，充满了描述权利、义务、犯罪及司法体系的精确术语。本指南以中英对照、易于记忆的方式呈现关键术语，帮助你为未来的法律学习打下坚实基础。让我们通过简明解释和记忆助力开始构建你的法律词汇库。
1. The Rule of Law | 法治
The rule of law means that everyone, including the government, must obey the law. It is a bedrock principle of the UK constitution.
法治意味着包括政府在内的每个人都必须遵守法律。这是英国宪法的基石原则。
It prevents those in power from exercising authority arbitrarily or for personal gain. All actions taken by the state must be grounded in legal rules.
它防止掌权者武断地为个人利益行使权力。国家采取的一切行动都必须以法律规则为依据。
No one is above the law — not the police, not the prime minister, and not the monarch. This ensures accountability and protects individual freedoms.
没有人凌驾于法律之上——警察、首相乃至君主都不行。这确保了问责制，并保护个人自由。
Memory trick: Picture the law as a giant umbrella. It covers everyone equally, shielding them from arbitrary power, rain or shine.
记忆技巧：把法律想象成一把大伞。它平等地遮蔽所有人，无论晴雨，保护他们免受专断权力的侵害。
2. Criminal Law vs Civil Law | 刑法与民法
Criminal law deals with offences against the state or society as a whole, such as theft, assault, or murder. Its purpose is to punish wrongdoing and maintain public order.
刑法处理针对国家或整个社会的犯罪，例如盗窃、袭击或谋杀。其目的是惩罚违法行为并维护公共秩序。
Civil law, on the other hand, resolves disputes between individuals or organisations. Examples include contract disagreements, divorce proceedings, and personal injury claims. The usual aim is compensation, not punishment.
另一方面，民法解决个人或组织之间的纠纷。例如合同争议、离婚诉讼和人身伤害索赔。目的通常是赔偿，而非惩罚。
In a criminal case, the state brings the prosecution; the accused is the defendant. In a civil case, the person bringing the claim is the claimant, and the other party is also called the defendant.
在刑事案件中，由国家提起公诉；被指控者为被告人。在民事案件中，提出请求的一方为原告，另一方也称为被告。
3. Key Court Terms | 关键法庭术语
The Magistrates' Court handles minor criminal cases (summary offences) and some civil matters. Crown Court deals with serious crimes (indictable offences) and appeals from the Magistrates' Court.
治安法院处理轻微刑事案件（简易罪）和部分民事事务。刑事法院处理严重犯罪（可公诉罪）以及来自治安法院的上诉。
A trial is the formal examination of evidence in court to decide guilt or liability. The verdict is the decision reached by a jury or a judge at the end of a trial.
审判是在法庭上对证据进行正式审查以决定有罪或责任的过程。裁决是陪审团或法官在审判结束时作出的决定。
The sentence is the punishment given to a person convicted of a crime, such as a fine, community service, or imprisonment. In civil cases, the court awards a remedy, often in the form of damages (money).
量刑是对被判有罪的人施加的惩罚，例如罚款、社区服务或监禁。在民事案件中，法院给予救济，通常以损害赔偿金（金钱）的形式。
4. Legal Personnel | 法律职业人员
A judge presides over court proceedings, ensures the law is correctly applied, and passes sentences in criminal cases or makes decisions in civil cases. Magistrates are trained volunteers who hear cases in the Magistrates' Court without a jury.
法官主持法庭程序，确保法律被正确适用，并在刑事案件中宣判或在民事案件中作出裁决。治安法官是经过培训的志愿者，在治安法院审理案件，无需陪审团。
Barristers are lawyers who specialise in advocacy and represent clients in court, especially in Crown Court and higher courts. Solicitors provide legal advice, prepare documents, and may represent clients in lower courts.
出庭律师是专门从事辩护、在法庭上代表委托人的律师，尤其是在刑事法院和高等法院。事务律师提供法律咨询、准备文件，并可在下级法院代表当事人。
A jury is a group of 12 randomly selected citizens who decide the facts of a case in a criminal trial and deliver a verdict. Juries ensure community participation in the justice system.
陪审团是由 12 名随机挑选的公民组成的团体，在刑事审判中裁决案件事实并作出裁决。陪审团确保了社区参与司法体系。
5. Sources of Law | 法律渊源
Statute law, also known as legislation, is made by Parliament. Acts of Parliament are the highest form of law in the UK and can cover any topic, from road traffic to human rights.
成文法，又称立法，由议会制定。议会法案是英国最高形式的法律，可涵盖从道路交通到人权的任何主题。
Common law is law developed by judges through decisions in individual cases. When a higher court sets a legal principle, lower courts must follow it — this is called judicial precedent or stare decisis.
普通法是由法官在具体案件的判决中发展出来的法律。当上级法院确立一项法律原则时，下级法院必须遵循——这被称为司法先例或遵循先例原则。
Delegated legislation refers to laws made by government ministers or other bodies under powers given to them by an Act of Parliament. It allows for detailed rules without taking up full parliamentary time.
授权立法是指政府大臣或其他机构根据议会法案授予的权力制定的法律。它允许制定详细规则，而无需占用议会的全部时间。
6. Offences and Their Elements | 犯罪及其要素
Summary offences are minor crimes, like most traffic offences or minor public disorder, and are tried in the Magistrates' Court. Indictable offences are serious crimes, such as murder or rape, and are sent to the Crown Court.
简易罪是轻微犯罪，如大多数交通违章或轻微扰乱公共秩序，在治安法院审理。可公诉罪是严重犯罪，如谋杀或强奸，移送刑事法院审理。
Either-way offences, like theft or burglary, can be tried in either court depending on the seriousness and the defendant's choice.
两可罪，如盗窃或入室盗窃，视严重程度和被告的选择，可在任一法院审理。
Every criminal offence requires two elements: actus reus (the guilty act) and mens rea (the guilty mind). The actus reus is the physical element — doing something forbidden, like striking someone. The mens rea is the mental element — intending to do the forbidden act or being reckless about it.
所有刑事犯罪都需要两个要素：犯罪行为（actus reus）和犯罪意图（mens rea）。犯罪行为是物理要素——做法律禁止的事情，比如打人。犯罪意图是心理要素——意图实施禁止行为或放任其发生。
Memory aid: Think of a scale — the prosecution must prove both actus reus and mens rea beyond a reasonable doubt. Without one, the scales tip in favour of the defendant.
记忆辅助：想象一把天平——控方必须无合理疑点地证明犯罪行为和犯罪意图。缺少一个，天平就会向被告倾斜。
7. Common Defences | 常见抗辩理由
A defence is a legal reason why a defendant should not be found guilty, even if they committed the act. Self-defence allows a person to use reasonable force to protect themselves or others from an imminent attack.
抗辩是指即使被告实施了行为，也不应被判有罪的法律理由。正当防卫允许一个人使用合理武力来保护自己或他人免受迫在眉睫的攻击。
Insanity (or automatism) is a defence where the defendant argues they were not in control of their actions due to a mental disorder or an involuntary physical state.
精神错乱（或自动症）是一种抗辩，被告辩称由于精神障碍或非自愿的身体状态而无法控制自己的行为。
Duress means the defendant was forced to commit a crime under threat of death or serious harm. Necessity applies in rare situations where breaking the law was the only way to avoid a greater harm.
胁迫是指被告在死亡或严重伤害的威胁下被迫犯罪。紧急避险适用于罕见的、只有违法才能避免更大损害的情况。
8. Sentencing and Remedies | 量刑与救济
In criminal law, sentences aim to punish, deter, rehabilitate, and protect the public. Custodial sentences send the offender to prison, while non-custodial options include fines, community orders, and conditional discharges.
在刑法中，刑罚旨在惩罚、威慑、改造和保护公众。监禁刑将罪犯送入监狱，而非监禁选择包括罚款、社区令和有条件释放。
A community order can require an offender to perform unpaid work, undergo treatment for addiction, or abide by a curfew. Youth offenders might be given a referral order to a youth offender panel.
社区令可要求罪犯从事无偿劳动、接受成瘾治疗或遵守宵禁。青少年罪犯可能会被移交给青少年犯罪小组处理。
In civil law, the main remedy is damages — money paid by the defendant to compensate the claimant for loss or injury. An injunction is a court order that either stops someone from doing something (prohibitory) or compels them to do something (mandatory).
在民法中，主要救济是损害赔偿金——被告为赔偿原告的损失或伤害而支付的钱款。禁制令是法院下达的命令，要么阻止某人做某事（禁止性），要么强迫其做某事（强制性）。
9. Rights and Responsibilities | 权利与责任
The Human Rights Act 1998 incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law. It protects fundamental rights such as the right to life, freedom of expression, and the right to a fair trial.
1998 年《人权法案》将《欧洲人权公约》纳入了英国法律。它保护基本权利，如生命权、言论自由权和接受公正审判的权利。
With rights come responsibilities. Every citizen has a duty to obey the law, respect the rights of others, and not excercise their freedoms in a way that harms the community.
权利伴随着责任。每个公民都有义务遵守法律，尊重他人的权利，不以危害社会的方式行使其自由。
Freedom of speech does not protect hate speech or threats. The right to protest must be balanced with public safety. These limitations ensure one person's rights do not unreasonably interfere with another's.
言论自由不保护仇恨言论或威胁。抗议权必须与公共安全相平衡。这些限制确保一个人的权利不会不合理地干涉他人的权利。
10. Useful Latin Phrases | 实用拉丁短语
Legal Latin is everywhere in the justice system. Actus reus means "guilty act" — the physical element of a crime. Mens rea means "guilty mind" — the intention or knowledge of wrongdoing.
法律拉丁语在司法体系中随处可见。Actus reus 意为“犯罪行为”——犯罪的物理要素。Mens rea 意为“犯罪意图”——做错事的意图或明知。
Stare decisis means "to stand by things decided". It refers to the doctrine of precedent, where lower courts follow the rulings of higher courts in similar cases.
Stare decisis 意为“遵循已决事项”。它指的是先例原则，即下级法院在类似案件中遵循上级法院的裁决。
Habeas corpus literally translates to "you shall have the body". It is a legal writ that prevents unlawful detention by requiring a person's case to be brought before a judge.
Habeas corpus 字面翻译为“你应拥有身体”。它是一种法律令状，通过要求将一个人的案件提交法官审理来防止非法拘留。
Pro bono (short for pro bono publico) means "for the public good". Lawyers doing pro bono work provide free legal services to those who cannot afford them.
Pro bono（pro bono publico 的缩写）意为“为了公共利益”。从事公益工作的律师为无力承担费用的人提供免费法律服务。
Tip: Create simple flashcards with the Latin phrase on one side and the English meaning on the other. Say both the Latin and the English aloud several times to lock them into memory.
提示：制作简易抽认卡，一面写拉丁短语，另一面写英文意思。大声把拉丁语和英语各念几遍，以巩固记忆。
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