📚 Year 7 CAIE Law: Key Legal Vocabulary Quick-Memorisation Guide | Year 7 CAIE 法律：词汇术语速记指南
Building a strong legal vocabulary is the first step to thinking like a lawyer. This guide introduces essential terms from the Year 7 CAIE Law syllabus and gives you simple, fun memory tricks to make them stick. You will learn what ‘law’ really means, how courts work, and the key words that appear in every legal textbook. Each section pairs a clear English explanation with a Chinese translation so you can study bilingually and feel confident in class discussions.
建立扎实的法律词汇基础，是像律师一样思考的第一步。本指南将介绍 Year 7 CAIE 法律课程中的核心术语，并教你简单有趣的速记技巧，让你轻松记住它们。你将理解 “法律” 的真正含义、法院的运作方式，以及每本法律教科书都会出现的关键词。每个板块都配有清晰的中英双语解释，帮助你自信地参与课堂讨论。
1. What Is Law? – Rule, Custom and System | 什么是法律？—— 规则、习惯与体系
The word ‘law’ comes from Old Norse and Old English words meaning ‘something laid down or fixed’. A law is a formal rule made by a government that everyone in a country must obey. In simple terms, think of it as the instruction manual for a whole society – without it, there would be chaos.
“Law”（法律）一词源自古诺尔斯语和古英语，意为 “被规定或固定的东西”。法律是由政府制定的正式规则，一国之内的所有人都必须遵守。简单来说，你可以把它看作整个社会的 “使用说明书”—— 没有它，就会乱成一团。
A custom is a traditional way of behaving that people follow because ‘it has always been done that way’, not because it is written down. Over time, some customs become so important that judges turn them into common law. The memory trick here is: customs are habits; law is a written promise.
“Custom”（习惯）是一种传统的行为方式，人们遵守它是因为 “向来如此”，而非因为它被写下来。久而久之，某些习惯变得极其重要，法官便把它们变成普通法。记忆窍门：习惯是长期养成的做法，法律则是白纸黑字的承诺。
2. Justice and Fairness – More Than Just Winning | 正义与公平 —— 不只是赢
‘Justice’ does not mean simply punishing the bad person or helping the good person. Legally, justice means everyone gets equal treatment under the law and a fair chance to be heard. Picture a pair of balanced scales – that is why Lady Justice is often shown holding scales, representing impartiality.
“Justice”（正义）并非只是惩罚坏人或者帮助好人。在法律上，正义意味着每个人在法律面前都得到平等对待，并有公平的机会进行申辩。想象一架平衡的天平 —— 这正是正义女神常常手执天平的原因，它象征着不偏不倚。
Fairness is closely related but slightly different: it asks whether a particular decision feels right in the circumstances, even if the strict rules would say otherwise. In a Year 7 class, justice is having the same school rules for everyone; fairness is the teacher listening to your side of the story before giving a detention.
“Fairness”（公平）与之相近但略有不同：它关注的是特定情况下的决定是否让人感觉合理，即便严格照搬规则可能得出相反结论。在 Year 7 的班级里，正义是校规对所有人一视同仁；公平则是老师在关你禁闭之前，先听听你的说法。
3. Rights and Duties – Two Sides of the Same Coin | 权利与义务 —— 一枚硬币的两面
A ‘right’ is something you are entitled to, either because the law says so (a legal right) or because it is considered morally correct (a moral right). For example, children have a legal right to education up to a certain age in many countries. To remember it, link ‘right’ to ‘correct’ – something you justly deserve.
“Right”（权利）是你有权享有的东西，要么因为法律如此规定（法定权利），要么因为这在道德上是正当的（道德权利）。例如，在很多国家，儿童在特定年龄之前依法享有受教育的权利。要记住它，可以把 “right” 和 “正确” 联系起来 —— 权利是你理应得到的东西。
A ‘duty’ is what you must do, often corresponding to someone else’s right. If you have a right to education, your parents have a duty to send you to school, and the state has a duty to provide schools. Think of duty as the ‘must-do’ list that keeps rights from becoming empty promises.
“Duty”（义务）是你必须做的事情，通常与别人的权利相对应。如果你有权接受教育，你的父母就有义务送你去上学，国家则有义务提供学校。可以把义务想象成一份 “必做清单”，它防止权利沦为空洞的承诺。
4. Wrongful Acts: Crime and Tort | 不法行为：犯罪与侵权
A ‘crime’ is an act that breaks the law and is punished by the state, for example theft or assault. The police and the Crown Prosecution Service (in England) bring the case, not the victim. The key memory image is a prison cell – crimes can lead to imprisonment, a loss of freedom.
“Crime”（犯罪）是指违反法律并受到国家惩罚的行为，例如盗窃或殴打。在英格兰，案件由警察和皇家检控署提起，而不是由受害者提起。记忆的关键画面是一间牢房 —— 犯罪可能导致监禁，即丧失自由。
A ‘tort’ is a civil wrong, meaning one person harms another and the victim can sue for compensation. Examples include negligence (like a shop owner not mopping a wet floor) or defamation (damaging someone’s reputation). The word ‘tort’ comes from the French for ‘twisted’ or ‘wrong’. Remember: tort rhymes with ‘short’, and it is about making a short wrong right again with money.
“Tort”（侵权）是一种民事过错，指一个人对他人造成伤害，受害者可以提起诉讼要求赔偿。例子包括过失（如店主没有擦干湿地）或诽谤（损害他人名誉）。“Tort” 一词源于法语，意为 “扭曲” 或 “错误”。记忆方法：tort 在发音上像 “short”，侵权就是要用金钱把短处弥补回来。
5. Making Law: Statute and Common Law | 制定法律：成文法与普通法
A ‘statute’ is a written law passed by Parliament (or a similar law-making body). Think of a statue in a park – just as a statue is carved in stone for everyone to see, a statute is written down so all citizens can know it. Statutes are also called Acts of Parliament or legislation.
“Statute”（成文法）是由议会（或类似立法机构）通过的成文法律。想象公园里的一尊雕像 —— 正如雕像被雕刻在石头上供所有人观看，成文法也被白纸黑字写下来，让全体公民都能知晓。成文法也被称为议会法案或立法。
‘Common law’ is judge-made law, built up through decisions in previous cases known as ‘precedents’. If a higher court decides a point of law, lower courts must follow it. The memory trick: common law is ‘common’ because it is based on shared patterns from past cases, like a long chain of dominoes each tipping the next one.
“Common law”（普通法）是法官制定的法律，通过被称为 “先例” 的既往判例积累而成。如果上级法院对某一法律要点作出判决，下级法院必须遵守。记忆妙招：普通法之所以 “普通”，是因为它基于过往案例的共同模式，就像一长串多米诺骨牌，前一块推倒后一块。
6. In the Courtroom: Judge, Jury and Lawyers | 法庭之上：法官、陪审团与律师
A ‘judge’ is the person in charge of a court who makes sure the trial is fair, explains the law to the jury (if there is one), and decides the sentence in criminal cases. Think of a judge as the referee in a sports match – they do not play for either side but enforce the rules.
“Judge”（法官）是主持法庭的人，负责确保审判公正，向陪审团（如有）解释法律，并在刑事案件中决定量刑。你可以把法官想象成体育比赛中的裁判 —— 他们不为任何一方效力，只是执行规则。
A ‘jury’ is a group of ordinary citizens (12 in England for most criminal trials) who listen to the evidence and decide the facts – guilty or not guilty. Juries do not decide the law or the punishment. Memory trick: ‘jury’ sounds like ‘jury duty’, a clear reminder that serving on a jury is a citizen’s duty.
“Jury”（陪审团）是一群普通公民（在英格兰大多数刑事审判中为 12 人），他们听取证据并裁决事实 —— 有罪还是无罪。陪审团不决定法律问题或刑罚。记忆窍门：“jury” 和 “jury duty”（陪审义务）发音相近，提醒人们担任陪审员是一项公民义务。
Legal professionals in England and Wales are traditionally divided into ‘solicitors’, who advise clients and prepare cases, and ‘barristers’, who represent clients in court and wear wigs and gowns. An easy way to tell them apart: solicitors stay in the office (think ‘sol’ for ‘solid’ desk), while barristers stand at the ‘bar’ in court.
在英格兰和威尔士，法律专业人士传统上分为 “solicitor”（事务律师）和 “barrister”（出庭律师）。事务律师为客户提供咨询、准备案件，而出庭律师则代表客户在法庭上陈词，并戴着假发、身着袍服。简单区分方法：事务律师在事务所办公（“sol” 可联想到 “solid” desk，稳固的办公桌），而出庭律师则站在法庭的 “bar”（律师席）前。
7. The Parties: Claimant, Defendant and More | 当事人：原告、被告及其他
In a civil case, the person bringing the lawsuit used to be called the ‘plaintiff’, and in many countries still is. However, in England and Wales, the term is now usually ‘claimant’. Claimant is easy to remember because they ‘claim’ something – money, an apology, or an action.
在民事案件中，提起诉讼的人过去被称为 “plaintiff”（原告），许多国家至今仍沿用这一称呼。但在英格兰和威尔士，如今通常使用 “claimant”（申索人）。Claimant 很容易记忆，因为他们提出 “claim”（申索）—— 要求金钱、道歉或某种行为。
The ‘defendant’ is the person being sued in a civil case or accused in a criminal case. They are the ones who must ‘defend’ themselves. A simple image: in a football match, the claimant is the attacking team, and the defendant is the defending team trying to stop the goal.
“Defendant”（被告）是在民事案件中被起诉、或在刑事案件中被指控的人。他们就是必须为自己 “defend”（辩护）的人。一个简单的画面：在足球比赛中，申索人是进攻方，被告则是试图阻止进球的防守方。
8. A Few Latin Gems: Actus Reus and Mens Rea | 几颗拉丁宝石：犯罪行为与犯罪意图
In criminal law, two Latin phrases are absolutely central. ‘Actus reus’ means the ‘guilty act’ – the physical action (or sometimes failure to act) that the law forbids. Think of ‘actus’ as ‘action’. Without an actus reus, there is usually no crime.
在刑法中，有两个拉丁短语至关重要。“Actus reus” 意为 “犯罪行为” —— 即法律所禁止的身体行动（有时也包括不作为）。把 “actus” 想象成 “action”（行动）。没有犯罪行为，通常就不构成犯罪。
‘Mens rea’ means the ‘guilty mind’ – the mental element of a crime, such as intention or recklessness. ‘Mens’ shares a root with ‘mental’. Together, actus reus and mens rea make up the classic formula of criminal liability: guilty act + guilty mind = crime (in most cases).
“Mens rea” 意为 “犯罪意图” —— 犯罪的心理要素，比如蓄意或鲁莽。“Mens” 与 “mental”（精神的）词根相同。两者合起来构成了刑事责任的经典公式：犯罪行为 + 犯罪意图 = 犯罪（在大多数情况下）。
Finally, ‘habeas corpus’ is a safeguard against unlawful imprisonment. It means ‘you shall have the body’, requiring the state to bring a detained person before a court. The rhyme ‘habeas – please release us’ can help you remember its protective purpose.
最后，“habeas corpus”（人身保护令）是防止非法拘禁的保障措施。它的字面意思是 “你应将此人身体带来”，要求国家将被拘禁者带到法庭。押韵的口诀 “habeas – please release us” 能帮你记住它的保护功能。
9. Branches of Law: Public and Private | 法律分支：公法与私法
Laws are often sorted into two big families. ‘Public law’ deals with the relationship between the state and individuals, including constitutional law, administrative law, and criminal law. If the government is one of the parties, it is probably public law.
法律通常被分为两大门类。“Public law”（公法）处理国家与个人之间的关系，包括宪法、行政法和刑法。只要政府是当事人一方，那很可能就属于公法范畴。
‘Private law’ deals with disputes between individuals or businesses, such as contract, tort, family, and property law. Memory shortcut: public = state involved; private = just people and companies, like a private conversation between neighbours.
“Private law”（私法）处理个人或企业之间的纠纷，例如合同法、侵权法、家庭法和财产法。记忆捷径：公法涉及国家；私法仅涉及平民和公司，就像邻居之间的悄悄话。
10. Criminal Law vs. Civil Law – Two Different Aims | 刑法与民法 —— 两种不同的目标
This distinction repeats itself in every law class. Criminal law aims to punish wrongdoers and protect society. The state brings the case, the standard of proof is ‘beyond reasonable doubt’, and the result is a conviction (or acquittal) and sentence. The image is a prison cell and a criminal record.
这一区别在每一堂法律课上都会反复出现。刑法旨在惩罚违法者并保护社会。案件由国家提起，证明标准是 “排除合理怀疑”，结果是定罪（或无罪释放）及判刑。画面就是一间牢房和一份犯罪记录。
Civil law aims to settle disputes and provide a remedy, typically money (damages). The person who suffered harm brings the case, the standard of proof is ‘on the balance of probabilities’ (more likely than not), and the result is liability (or not). The image is a cheque writing out compensation.
民法旨在解决纠纷并提供救济，通常是金钱赔偿（损害赔偿金）。遭受损害的人提起诉讼，证明标准是 “盖然性权衡”（可能性较大），结果是（不）承担责任。画面就是一张赔偿支票。
A helpful table to compare them:
| Feature | Criminal Law | Civil Law |
|---|---|---|
| Who brings the case? | The state (prosecutor) | The injured person (claimant) |
| Purpose | Punish and protect | Compensate and settle disputes |
| Standard of proof | Beyond reasonable doubt | Balance of probabilities |
以下是比较它们的实用表格：
| 特征 | 刑法 | 民法 |
|---|---|---|
| 谁提起诉讼？ | 国家（检察官） | 受害方（原告） |
| 目的 | 惩罚与保护 | 赔偿与解决纠纷 |
| 证明标准 | 排除合理怀疑 | 盖然性权衡 |
11. The Court Hierarchy – Who Is Higher? | 法院等级 —— 谁更高？
Courts are organised in a pyramid. At the base are the Magistrates’ Courts (minor criminal matters) and County Court (civil claims). Above them is the Crown Court (serious crimes) and the High Court. The Court of Appeal sits higher, and at the very top is the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. Its decisions bind all lower courts.
法院按金字塔结构组织。最底层是治安法院（轻微刑事案件）和郡法院（民事索赔）。往上是刑事法院（严重犯罪）和高等法院。上诉法院位于更上方，而最顶端是英国最高法院。最高法院的判决对所有下级法院都有约束力。
Memory trick: imagine a school hierarchy – the Supreme Court is the head teacher, the Court of Appeal is the year head, and the lower courts are class teachers. A decision by the head teacher (Supreme Court) must be followed by everyone.
记忆妙招：想象学校的层级 —— 最高法院是校长，上诉法院是年级组长，下级法院是班主任。校长（最高法院）的决定所有人都必须遵守。
12. Everyday Legal Phrases – From ‘Innocent Until Proven Guilty’ to ‘Burden of Proof’ | 日常法律短语 —— 从 “无罪推定” 到 “举证责任”
The phrase ‘innocent until proven guilty’ is the cornerstone of criminal justice. It means the prosecution must prove a defendant’s guilt; the defendant does not need to prove their innocence. This ties to the ‘burden of proof’, which rests on the party bringing the case.
“Innocent until proven guilty”（推定无罪）是刑事司法的基石。它意味着控方必须证明被告有罪；被告无需证明自己清白。这与 “举证责任” 相关联，该责任落在提起诉讼的一方。
‘Beyond reasonable doubt’ is the very high standard used in criminal trials. If the jury has a real doubt that makes them hesitate, they must acquit. In civil trials, ‘balance of probabilities’ means the judge simply decides which side’s story is more believable – even 51% is enough.
“Beyond reasonable doubt”（排除合理怀疑）是刑事审判中很高的标准。如果陪审团存在真实的疑虑，让他们犹豫不决，他们就必须宣告无罪。在民事审判中，“balance of probabilities”（盖然性权衡）意味着法官只需判断哪一方的说法更可信 —— 哪怕只有 51% 的可能性也够了。
Finally, ‘justice delayed is justice denied’ reminds us that legal systems must work in a timely manner. If a court case takes ten years, even the winner may feel they have lost. This phrase captures the link between efficiency and fairness.
最后，“justice delayed is justice denied”（迟来的正义非正义）提醒我们，法律制度必须及时运作。如果一场官司拖上十年，即使胜诉方也可能觉得自己输了。这句话抓住了效率与公平之间的关联。
With these terms and memory hooks, you have built a solid scaffold for Year 7 CAIE Law. Keep reviewing by drawing little pictures, making flashcards, and explaining the words to a friend – teaching is the fastest way to learn.
掌握了这些术语和记忆窍门，你已为 Year 7 CAIE 法律搭好了牢固的框架。可以通过画小图、制作闪卡、向朋友讲解来不断复习 —— 教别人是学得最快的方法。
Published by TutorHao | Law Revision Series | aleveler.com
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