📚 WJEC Year 9 Law Vocabulary & Terminology Quick Memory Guide | 法律词汇术语速记指南
Welcome to your essential memory toolkit for WJEC Year 9 Law. Whether you are preparing for an end‑of‑topic test or just starting your legal journey, mastering the core terminology is the first step. This guide groups key terms into logical clusters, offers memorable mnemonics, and explains each concept in a clear, exam‑friendly way.
欢迎使用 WJEC 九年级法律必备词汇速记指南。无论你是在准备单元测验，还是刚刚开启法律学习之旅，掌握核心术语都是第一步。这份指南将关键术语按逻辑分组，提供好记的口诀，并用清晰、适合考试的方式解释每个概念。
1. The Building Blocks of a Crime: Actus Reus and Mens Rea | 犯罪构成要件：违法行为与犯罪意图
Every crime needs two elements unless it is a strict liability offence. Actus reus means 'guilty act' – the physical action, omission or state of affairs that breaks the law. Mens rea means 'guilty mind' – the mental element such as intention or recklessness. A simple memory trick: think of a guilty Act (actus reus) and a guilty Mind (mens rea) – Act before Mind because you usually do something before anyone asks what you were thinking.
除非是严格责任犯罪，每个犯罪都需要两个要素。Actus reus 意为“犯罪行为”——即违法的身体动作、不作为或事态。Mens rea 意为“犯罪意图”——即故意或轻率等心理要素。简单的记忆技巧：想象一个有罪的行为（actus reus）和一个有罪的心理（mens rea）——行为在先，心理在后，因为你通常先行动，人们才问你在想什么。
For causation, remember that the act must be both the factual cause (the 'but for' test) and the legal cause (the substantial and operating cause). The defendant must take their victim as they find them – this is the thin‑skull rule.
就因果关系而言，要记住该行为必须既是事实上的原因（“若无则不”检验标准），又是法律上的原因（起实质性作用的原因）。被告必须承受受害者自身的特殊体质——这就是薄颅骨规则。
2. Strict Liability: Crimes Without a Guilty Mind | 严格责任：无需犯罪意图的犯罪
Strict liability offences do not require proof of mens rea for at least one element of the actus reus. If you commit the act, you are guilty, even if you had no intention or were not reckless. Many regulatory offences, such as selling alcohol to a minor or food safety breaches, fall into this category. Think of it as a 'no‑fault' offence: the law says you should have known.
严格责任犯罪不要求证明违法行为中至少一个要素的犯罪意图。只要你实施了行为，哪怕没有故意或轻率，你也构成犯罪。许多监管类犯罪，如向未成年人售酒或违反食品安全规定，都属于此类。可以把它看作“无过错”犯罪：法律认为你应当知道。
A quick memory phrase: Strict offences are Serious about protection, so State of mind is irrelevant. Examples include no seatbelt, selling a lottery ticket to under‑16s, and certain pollution offences.
快速记忆口诀：严格责任犯罪严格保护公众，所以严重程度不问心理状态。例子包括不系安全带、向16岁以下未成年人出售彩票，以及某些污染犯罪。
3. Omission: When Doing Nothing Is a Crime | 不作为：何时什么都不做也构成犯罪
In English law, there is generally no duty to rescue a stranger. However, an omission (failure to act) can form the actus reus of a crime when the law imposes a specific duty. Duties arise from a contract (e.g. lifeguard), a relationship (parent to child), voluntary assumption of care, or creating a dangerous situation.
在英国法中，通常没有救助陌生人的义务。但当法律施加特定职责时，不作为（未能采取行动）可以构成犯罪的行为要素。职责可以来源于合同（如救生员）、关系（父母对孩子）、自愿承担照顾责任，或制造了危险情境。
Picture a chain: a duty is the first link, the breach of that duty is the second, and the harm is the third. All three must connect. The classic case is R v Stone and Dobinson where a sister voluntarily took in an ill relative and then failed to call for help.
想象一条锁链：义务是第一节，违反义务是第二节，损害是第三节。三节必须相连。经典案例是 R v Stone and Dobinson，其中姐姐自愿收留了生病的亲戚，却没有呼救。
4. Tort Law Basics: Negligence the Easy Way | 侵权法基础：简单理解过失侵权
A tort is a civil wrong that causes harm, leading to legal liability. The most common tort is negligence. To prove negligence, a claimant must establish three points: a duty of care existed, that duty was breached, and the breach caused damage that is not too remote. Use the 'neighbour principle' from Donoghue v Stevenson – you owe a duty to anyone closely and directly affected by your actions.
侵权是导致损害并产生法律责任的民事不当行为。最常见的侵权是过失侵权。要证明过失，原告必须确立三点：存在注意义务，该义务被违反，且该违反造成了非过于遥远的损害。运用 Donoghue v Stevenson 案中的“邻人原则”——你对任何受到你行为紧密直接影响的人负有注意义务。
Remember the three Ds of negligence: Duty, Dereliction (breach), Damage. For the breach, ask: would a reasonable person have done the same? If not, there is likely a breach.
记住过失的三个 D：Duty（义务）、Dereliction（违反）、Damage（损害）。判断是否违反时，问一句：一个理性人会这么做吗？如果不会，很可能就构成了违反。
5. Sources of Law: Parliament and Precedent | 法律渊源：议会立法与判例
In England and Wales, two main sources create law: statute law made by Parliament and common law developed by judges through precedent. A statute is an Act of Parliament, also called legislation. Common law is judge‑made law, built on the principle of stare decisis (stand by what has been decided). Think of statute as direct instructions from the kitchen (Parliament) and common law as recipes refined by many chefs (judges) over time.
在英格兰和威尔士，两大渊源产生法律：议会制定的成文法以及法官通过判例发展出的普通法。成文法是议会法案，也称立法。普通法是法官造法，建立在遵循先例原则之上。把成文法想象成来自厨房（议会）的直接指令，而普通法是长期由多位厨师（法官）打磨的食谱。
UK cannot make statute law alone in all areas; some powers are devolved to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. For WJEC, focus on how the Senedd Cymru (Welsh Parliament) can pass Acts on devolved matters like health and education.
英国并非在所有领域都能独立制定成文法；部分权力被下放给苏格兰、威尔士和北爱尔兰。对 WJEC 考试而言，要关注威尔士议会如何在卫生和教育等权力下放事务上通过法案。
6. Judicial Precedent in Action: Ratio and Obiter | 先例制度的运作：判决理由与附随意见
When a judge decides a case, the legal reason for the decision is the ratio decidendi – Latin for 'the reason for deciding'. This ratio binds lower courts in future similar cases. Anything said 'by the way' is obiter dicta, which is persuasive but not binding. Picture a sandwich: the filling is the ratio (the binding part), and the bread is obiter (useful but not essential to the decision).
当法官判决案件时，决定的法律依据是判决理由——拉丁语意为“决定的理由”。这一理由对下级法院在今后类似案件中具有约束力。任何“顺带一说”的内容是附随意见，有说服力但不具约束力。想象一个三明治：夹心是判决理由（有约束力的部分），面包是附随意见（有用但非判决必需）。
The court hierarchy determines which decisions bind whom. Supreme Court binds all lower courts, Court of Appeal binds itself and lower courts, and so on. Remember: Supreme is Superior to all.
法院层级决定了谁的判决约束谁。最高法院约束所有下级法院，上诉法院约束自身及下级法院，以此类推。记住：最高法院最大。
7. Key Players in Court: People and Their Roles | 法庭中的关键人物：角色与职责
In a criminal trial, the prosecution (Crown Prosecution Service) brings the case on behalf of the state. The person accused is the defendant. In a civil case, the person bringing the claim is the claimant, and the person being sued is still called the defendant. The judge manages the trial and decides points of law; the jury (if present) decides the facts and returns the verdict.
在刑事审判中，控方（皇家检察署）代表国家提起诉讼。被指控者称为被告。在民事案件中，提起诉讼者是原告，被起诉者同样称为被告。法官管理审判并决定法律问题；陪审团（如有）决定事实问题并作出裁决。
Barristers and solicitors are the two main types of lawyer. Solicitors usually advise clients directly and prepare cases; barristers specialise in advocacy and often wear wigs and gowns in court. Think of solicitors as the 'general practitioners' and barristers as the 'surgeons' of the legal world.
出庭律师和事务律师是两类主要法律执业者。事务律师通常直接为客户提供咨询并准备案件；出庭律师专精于法庭辩护，常在庭上穿戴假发和法袍。把事务律师看作法律界的“全科医生”，出庭律师则是“外科医生”。
8. Burden and Standard of Proof: Who Proves What and How | 举证责任与证明标准：谁证明什么，证明到何种程度
The burden of proof identifies which party must prove the case. In criminal law, the prosecution bears the legal burden to prove all elements of the offence. The standard of proof is the level of certainty required: in criminal cases, it is beyond reasonable doubt – the highest standard. In civil cases, the standard is balance of probabilities, meaning more likely than not. Picture a scale: criminal proof requires the scale to tip almost entirely to guilty; civil proof only needs a slight tilt.
举证责任界定哪一方必须证明案件。在刑法中，控方承担证明犯罪所有要素的法律责任。证明标准是所需的确信程度：刑事案件中为排除合理怀疑——最高标准。民事案件中，标准是盖然性权衡，意即更有可能如此。想象一把秤：刑事证明要求秤几乎完全倾向有罪一边；民事证明只需微微倾斜。
A useful phrase: Criminal = Convinced (beyond reasonable doubt), Civil = Chances are (balance of probabilities).
有用的口诀：Criminal（刑事）对应 Convinced（确信，排除合理怀疑），Civil（民事）对应 Chances are（可能性是，盖然性权衡）。
9. Criminal Sentences: Custodial, Community and More | 刑事判决：监禁、社区矫正及其它
After a guilty verdict, the judge passes a sentence. A custodial sentence means prison or young offender institution. A suspended sentence means the prison term is not served immediately provided the offender complies with conditions. A community order can include unpaid work, a curfew or rehabilitation programmes. Fines and discharges (absolute or conditional) are also available for less serious offences.
有罪裁决作出后，法官发布判决。监禁刑指监狱或青少年犯管教所。缓刑意味着只要罪犯遵守条件，监禁刑期不必立即执行。社区矫正令可以包括无偿劳动、宵禁或康复计划。罚金和释放（无条件或附条件）也可用于较轻犯罪。
Think of the sentencing ladder: discharge at the bottom, fine up a rung, community order higher, and custodial at the top for the most serious offences. Remember that youth courts have a different range of sentences including referral orders and youth rehabilitation orders.
想象判决等级：释放在最底层，往上一级是罚金，再高是社区矫正，监禁刑在顶端用于最严重犯罪。注意青少年法庭有一套不同判决，包括转介令和青少年康复令。
10. Legal Careers and Courtroom Language | 法律职业与法庭用语
Learning the vocabulary of legal professionals helps you read cases and news reports. Magistrates are volunteer judges in the Magistrates’ Court who deal with less serious criminal cases. Clerks/ legal advisers assist them on points of law. A QC (Queen’s Counsel) or KC (King’s Counsel) is a senior barrister appointed for excellence in advocacy. When citing cases, remember R v Smith means 'The Crown against Smith': R stands for Rex (King) or Regina (Queen).
学习法律职业人员的词汇有助于你阅读案例和新闻报道。治安法官是治安法院审理较轻刑事案件的志愿法官。书记官/法律顾问在法律问题上为他们提供协助。御用大律师是因卓越辩护能力而被任命的资深出庭律师。引用案例时，记住 R v Smith 意为“王国诉史密斯”：R 代表国王（Rex）或女王（Regina）。
In civil cases, names are written as Claimant v Defendant, e.g. Donoghue v Stevenson. The small 'v' stands for 'versus' and is pronounced 'and' in civil cases or 'against' in criminal ones.
在民事案件中，名称写作 原告 v 被告，例如 Donoghue v Stevenson。小写字母“v”代表“versus”，在民事案件中读作“and”（和），刑事案件中读作“against”（诉）。
11. Human Rights and the Law: The European Convention on Human Rights | 人权与法律：《欧洲人权公约》
The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) was incorporated into UK law by the Human Rights Act 1998. Key articles you might meet include Article 2 (right to life), Article 5 (liberty and security), Article 6 (right to a fair trial), and Article 8 (respect for private and family life). These rights are qualified or absolute. Absolute rights, like the prohibition of torture, can never be restricted. Qualified rights can be limited if necessary and proportionate.
《欧洲人权公约》通过《1998年人权法》纳入英国法。你可能遇到的关键条款包括第2条（生命权）、第5条（自由与安全权）、第6条（公正审判权）和第8条（私生活和家庭生活受尊重权）。这些权利分为受限定权利和绝对权利。绝对权利，如禁止酷刑，永远不得限制。受限定权利在必要且相称时可以加以限制。
A memory tool: Article 2 – Life has 2 letters? Not exactly; better: Article 2 is you have the right to live. Article 6 – six letters in 'fair trial'? Think: six people sometimes on a jury. Create your own links.
记忆工具：第2条——生命有2画？不太准确；更好的联想：第2条是你有活下去的权利。第6条——"fair trial" 有六个字母（算上空格不行，但可用意象）。发挥你自己建立的联系。
12. Twelve Top Exam Tips for Remembering Terminology | 十二个记忆术语的高分技巧
1. Use flashcards with the term on one side and the definition plus a picture on the other. 2. Create acronyms like the three Ds for negligence. 3. Link new words to everyday examples: battery in a bag is like the tort of trespass to goods. 4. Teach a friend or family member – explaining out loud cements memory. 5. Draw mind maps clustering related concepts. 6. Read short case summaries to see terms in context. 7. Use rhymes or songs: 'Actus reus is the act we see, mens rea is the guilty mind secretly.' 8. Place sticky notes around your study space. 9. Test yourself with WJEC‑style questions regularly. 10. Break long words into parts: obiter (by the way) + dicta (sayings). 11. Understand the origins of Latin terms to make them stick. 12. Stay consistent with daily revision – even ten minutes matters.
1. 使用抽认卡，一面写术语，另一面写定义并配图。2. 编造首字母缩略词，如过失的三个 D。3. 将新词与日常例子联系起来：包里电池好比侵占动产的侵权。4. 教朋友或家人——大声解释能巩固记忆。5. 绘制思维导图，将相关概念聚类。6. 阅读简短案例摘要，在语境中见术语。7. 运用押韵或歌曲：“Actus reus 是可见的行为，mens rea 是暗藏的犯罪意图。”8. 在学习空间张贴便利贴。9. 定期用 WJEC 风格题目自测。10. 把长词拆解：obiter（顺便）+ dicta（说辞）。11. 理解拉丁术语的来源，使之更牢固。12. 坚持每天复习——即使十分钟也有用。
Finally, log your progress. Tick off each term you have mastered so you can see how much you have learned. Law vocabulary is a language; the more you speak it, the more fluent you become.
最后，记录你的进步。每掌握一个术语就打勾，这样你能看到自己学了多少。法律词汇是一种语言；你说得越多，就越流利。
Published by TutorHao | Law Revision Series | aleveler.com
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