📚 Year 7 WJEC Law: Quick Glossary Guide to Key Terms | 七年级 WJEC 法律:关键术语速记指南
Learning about law for the first time can feel like trying to read a map written in a foreign language. Every subject has its own special vocabulary, and law is no different. This guide is designed to help Year 7 students following the WJEC curriculum to quickly memorise and understand the most important legal terms. By breaking down each word into simple explanations with clear examples, you will build a solid foundation for all future studies in law. Whether you are discussing courtroom dramas or real-world justice, these terms will give you the confidence to speak and write like a true legal thinker.
初次接触法律,就像试图阅读用外语绘制的地图。每个学科都有自己一套专门的词汇,法律也不例外。这份指南旨在帮助 WJEC 课程的七年级学生快速记住并理解最重要的法律术语。我们将每个词语分解成简单的解释并配上清晰的例子,为你今后所有的法律学习打下坚实基础。不管是在讨论法庭剧还是现实世界的正义,这些术语会让你拥有自信,像一个真正的法律思考者那样说话和写作。
1. Law and Rules | 法律与规则
Before we can talk about courts and judges, we need to understand the difference between a ‘law’ and a simple ‘rule’. Rules guide our daily behaviour in smaller groups, like families or schools, while laws apply to everyone in a country and are enforced by the state. Getting this distinction clear helps you see why some actions lead to detention, while others lead to a police record.
在谈论法庭和法官之前,我们需要明白“法律”与普通“规则”的区别。规则规范我们在家庭或学校等较小群体中的日常行为,而法律适用于一个国家内的所有人,并由国家强制执行。分清楚这个区别,能让你明白为什么有的行为会让你被留堂,而另一些行为则会导致警方记录。
Law: A system of official rules created by Parliament or the courts that must be obeyed by all members of society. If you break a law, such as stealing, you can be punished by the state through fines or imprisonment.
法律:由议会或法院制定的、社会全体成员必须遵守的正式规则体系。如果你违反了法律,比如偷窃,国家会通过罚款或监禁对你进行惩罚。
Rule: A guideline for behaviour within a specific setting, like a school or a sports club. Rules are important for order, but breaking a school rule usually results in a school-based consequence, not a criminal record.
规则:在学校或体育俱乐部等特定场合中规范行为的准则。规则对维持秩序很重要,但违反校规通常只会受到校内处分,不会留下犯罪记录。
Society: The community of people living together in a country, sharing common laws, institutions and cultural values. Law exists to protect the peace and safety of society as a whole.
社会:共同生活在一个国家、共享法律、制度和文化价值观的人民群体。法律的存在正是为了维护整个社会的和平与安全。
2. Rights and Responsibilities | 权利与责任
With every right comes a responsibility. A right is something you are entitled to, such as the right to an education, while a responsibility is a duty you owe to others, such as not disrupting class. Legal systems balance rights and responsibilities so that everyone can enjoy their freedoms without harming the community around them.
每一项权利都伴随着一项责任。权利是你有权享有的事物,比如接受教育的权利;而责任则是你对他人负有的义务,比如不扰乱课堂。法律体系在权利与责任之间寻求平衡,让每个人都能享受自己的自由,同时不伤害周围的群体。
Right: A moral or legal entitlement to have something or to act in a certain way. For example, the right to free speech allows you to express your opinions, but this right is not unlimited.
权利:拥有某物或以某种方式行事的道义或法律资格。例如,言论自由权让你可以表达自己的观点,但这项权利并非绝对无限。
Responsibility: A duty to behave in a way that does not harm others and that respects the law. Paying taxes, serving on a jury and following school rules are all examples of responsibilities.
责任:以不伤害他人且尊重法律的方式行事的义务。纳税、担任陪审员以及遵守校规都是责任的例子。
Duty: A legal or moral obligation, very similar to responsibility. A doctor has a duty of care to their patients, and a driver has a duty to obey traffic lights.
义务:一种法律或道义上的职责,与责任非常相似。医生对病人负有照顾义务,驾驶员有遵守交通信号的义务。
3. Criminal and Civil Law | 刑法与民法
Law is divided into two huge branches: criminal law and civil law. Criminal law deals with behaviour that is harmful to society as a whole, like robbery, while civil law settles disputes between individuals or organisations, such as arguments over a broken contract. Knowing which branch applies is the first step in any legal problem.
法律分为两大分支:刑法与民法。刑法处理的是对整个社会有害的行为,比如抢劫;而民法则解决个人之间或组织之间的纠纷,比如就违约合同产生的争议。在任何一个法律问题中,第一步就是弄清楚适用哪个分支。
Criminal law: The set of laws that defines offences against the state and prescribes punishments. The police and Crown Prosecution Service bring criminal cases to court, and a guilty verdict can lead to a criminal record.
刑法:界定危害国家的罪行并规定处罚的法律体系。警方和皇家检察署负责将刑事案件提交法院,有罪判决可能导致留下犯罪记录。
Civil law: The area of law that deals with private disputes between individuals or companies. Examples include family law, contract law and personal injury claims. The outcome is usually compensation, not punishment.
民法:处理个人或公司之间私法纠纷的法律领域。例子包括家庭法、合同法和人身伤害索赔。结果通常是赔偿,而非惩罚。
Dispute: A disagreement or argument that may lead to a court case. Civil law exists to resolve disputes peacefully rather than letting people take matters into their own hands.
纠纷:可能引发法庭案件的分歧或争论。民法的存在就是为了和平解决纠纷,避免人们自行解决问题。
4. Courts and Trials | 法庭与审判
Courts are the visible face of the legal system. A courtroom is where judges, jurors and lawyers work together to decide whether someone is guilty or who should win a case. Understanding court vocabulary allows you to follow news reports and courtroom dramas with a more critical eye.
法庭是法律体系看得见的面孔。法庭是法官、陪审员和律师共同裁决是否有罪或案件胜败的场所。理解法庭词汇,能让你用更具批判性的眼光看懂新闻报道和法庭剧。
Court: A place where legal cases are heard and decided. England and Wales have a hierarchy of courts, from Magistrates’ Courts to the Supreme Court.
法院:审理和裁决法律案件的场所。英格兰和威尔士拥有从治安法院到最高法院的法院层级体系。
Judge: A legally qualified official who presides over a court case, ensuring the law is followed and giving a verdict or sentence. Judges wear robes and wigs in many courts as a symbol of their authority.
法官:主持法庭案件、确保程序合法并作出裁决或判决的法律专业人士。在许多法院,法官身穿长袍、头戴假发,象征其权威。
Jury: A group of 12 ordinary citizens randomly selected to decide the facts in a criminal trial and give a verdict of guilty or not guilty. The jury system is a key pillar of democratic justice.
陪审团:随机选出的12名普通公民组成的小组,负责在刑事审判中判定事实,并作出有罪或无罪的裁决。陪审团制度是民主司法的重要支柱。
Trial: The formal examination of evidence in a court to decide whether a person is guilty of a crime or who wins a civil case. A trial usually involves opening statements, witness testimony and closing arguments.
审判:在法庭上对证据进行的正式审查,以决定某人是否犯有罪行或民事案件的胜负。审判通常包括开庭陈述、证人证词和结案陈词。
5. Legal Professionals | 法律专业人士
Behind every court case is a team of trained professionals. Different legal roles have different responsibilities, from giving advice in an office to arguing fiercely in a courtroom. Getting these titles right takes practice, but once you learn them, the legal world becomes much less confusing.
每一桩法庭案件的背后,都有一队训练有素的专业人员。不同的法律角色承担着不同的职责,从在办公室里提供咨询,到在法庭上激烈陈词。把这些头衔记住需要练习,但一旦学会,法律世界就不会再那么令人困惑。
Solicitor: A lawyer who provides legal advice, prepares documents and may represent clients in lower courts. Most people first meet a solicitor when they need help with a house purchase or a will.
事务律师:提供法律建议、准备文件并可在下级法院代表当事人的律师。大多数人在购房或立遗嘱时首先接触的是事务律师。
Barrister: A specialist lawyer who represents clients in higher courts and gives expert opinions on complex legal matters. Barristers are often instructed by solicitors and wear wigs and gowns in court.
出庭律师:在高等法院代表当事人并就复杂法律事务提供专业意见的专门律师。出庭律师通常由事务律师委托,并在法庭上佩戴假发和长袍。
Magistrate: An unpaid volunteer who hears cases in Magistrates’ Courts, often without a legal background but with training and support from a legal adviser. They handle minor crimes and some family matters.
治安法官:在治安法院审理案件的无薪志愿者,通常没有法律背景,但接受过培训并有法律顾问支持。他们处理轻微犯罪和部分家庭事务。
6. Making Laws | 立法过程
Laws don’t appear out of nowhere. In the United Kingdom, laws are created by Parliament through a careful, step‑by‑step process. Learning the vocabulary of how bills become acts helps you become an informed citizen who understands how the rules that govern us are really made.
法律不会凭空出现。在英国,法律由议会通过一个严谨的、一步步的程序制定出来。学习法案如何成为法令的词汇,能让你成为一个明辨的公民,理解那些管治我们的规则究竟是怎样产生的。
Parliament: The supreme legislative body in the UK, made up of the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the Monarch. Parliament debates and votes on proposed new laws.
议会:英国的最高立法机关,由下议院、上议院和君主组成。议会就新法律提案进行辩论和表决。
Bill: A proposal for a new law that has not yet been passed. A bill must go through several readings and votes in both Houses of Parliament before it can become law.
法案:尚未通过的新法律提案。法案必须在议会两院经过多次宣读和表决,才能成为法律。
Act of Parliament: A bill that has been approved by both Houses and received Royal Assent, making it a law that must be followed. Acts are also called statutes.
议会法令:经两院批准并获御准的法案,从而成为必须遵守的法律。法令也被称为成文法。
Statute: Another word for a written law passed by Parliament. Statute law is the highest form of law in the UK and can override earlier common law rules.
成文法:由议会通过的书面法律的另一称呼。成文法在英国是最高位阶的法律,可以推翻先前的普通法规则。
7. The Justice System | 司法体系
Justice is more than just punishing wrongdoers – it is about fairness, equality and protecting the innocent. The justice system includes all the institutions and principles that make sure people are treated fairly under the law. Keywords like ‘presumption of innocence’ summarise centuries of struggle for a fairer society.
正义不仅仅是惩罚作恶者——它还关乎公平、平等以及保护无辜者。司法体系包括一切确保人们在法律下受到公平对待的制度与原则。“无罪推定”这样的关键词,浓缩了几个世纪以来为求更公平社会而进行的斗争。
Justice: The principle of treating all people fairly according to the law and giving each person what they deserve. A just society aims to balance punishment with the possibility of reform.
正义:依据法律公平对待所有人、给予每个人应得之物的原则。一个正义的社会力图在惩罚与改造可能性之间取得平衡。
Fairness: The quality of treating people equally and without bias. In law, fairness means that both sides in a case have a chance to present their arguments and evidence.
公平:对待他人时一视同仁、毫无偏袒的品性。在法律中,公平意味着案件双方都有机会陈述自己的论点和证据。
Presumption of innocence: The fundamental principle that a person accused of a crime is considered innocent until the prosecution proves their guilt beyond reasonable doubt. This protects individuals from wrongful conviction.
无罪推定:被控犯罪之人,在控方排除合理怀疑地证明其有罪之前,应被视为无罪的这一基本原则。它保护个人不被错误定罪。
8. Evidence and Witnesses | 证据与证人
What happens inside a courtroom depends heavily on evidence and the people who provide it. Evidence can be anything from a physical object to a spoken statement, and witnesses are the voices who bring facts to light. Mastering this vocabulary will help you understand how truth is reconstructed during a trial.
法庭内发生的事实,在很大程度上取决于证据以及提供证据的人。证据可以是实物,也可以是口头陈述,而证人就是把事实呈现出来的声音。掌握这些词汇,能帮助你理解在审判中真相是怎样被重建的。
Evidence: Any material or information that helps to prove or disprove a fact in a case. Evidence can be physical (a weapon), documentary (a contract) or testimonial (a witness’s words).
证据:在案件中用于证明或驳斥某一事实的任何材料或信息。证据可以是实物(凶器)、文件(合同)或证言(证人的话)。
Witness: A person who gives testimony in court about what they saw, heard or experienced. Witnesses must take an oath or affirmation to tell the truth.
证人:在法庭上就其所见、所闻或所经历之事提供证词的人。证人必须宣誓或作出郑重声明保证说实话。
Testimony: The spoken statement a witness makes in court under oath. Testimony is one of the most powerful forms of evidence, but its reliability can be tested through cross-examination.
证词:证人在法庭上经宣誓后所作的口头陈述。证词是最强有力的证据形式之一,但其可信度可通过交叉询问加以检验。
Cross-examination: The questioning of a witness by the opposing side’s lawyer to test the accuracy or truthfulness of their testimony. A skilful cross-examination can reveal contradictions or bias.
交叉询问:由对方律师对证人进行的盘问,以检验其证词的准确性或真实性。高明的交叉询问可以揭示矛盾或偏见。
9. Crimes and Punishments | 犯罪与惩罚
The language of crime ranges from the everyday word ‘offence’ to more formal terms like ‘indictment’. When a person is found guilty, the court must decide on an appropriate punishment, known as a sentence. These words help us discuss what justice looks like after wrongdoing has been proved.
犯罪的语言涵盖从日常所用的“ offence”(罪行)到“ indictment”(公诉书)这类更正式的术语。当一个人被判定有罪,法庭必须决定适当的惩罚,即“ sentence”(刑罚)。这些词语帮助我们讨论,当不法行为被证实后,正义应当是什么样的。
Offence: An illegal act or crime. Offences can be summary (minor, tried in Magistrates’ Court), either-way or indictable (serious, tried in Crown Court).
罪行:非法行为或犯罪。罪行可分为简易罪(轻微,在治安法院审理)、可双轨审理罪或可公诉罪(严重,在刑事法院审理)。
Sentence: The punishment given to a person found guilty by a court. Sentences can include fines, community service, probation or imprisonment.
刑罚:法庭对被判有罪之人所施加的惩罚。刑罚可包括罚金、社区服务、缓刑或监禁。
Fine: A sum of money a convicted person must pay as punishment for an offence. Fines are the most common sentence for minor crimes like speeding or littering.
罚金:被判有罪者必须作为惩罚而支付的一笔钱。罚金是超速、乱扔垃圾等轻微犯罪最常见的刑罚。
Imprisonment: A sentence that deprives a person of their liberty by placing them in jail or prison. The length of imprisonment usually reflects the seriousness of the crime.
监禁:将人关在拘留所或监狱中、剥夺其自由的一种刑罚。监禁刑期的长短通常反映罪行的严重程度。
10. Human Rights | 人权
Modern law is built on the idea that every person has certain basic rights simply by being human. The Human Rights Act 1998 brought the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law, making concepts like freedom of expression and the right to a fair trial part of our everyday legal vocabulary. Understanding this language is essential for studying law in a democratic society.
现代法律建立在这样一种理念之上:每个人都因生而为人便拥有某种基本权利。1998年《人权法案》将《欧洲人权公约》引入英国法律,使表达自由、公正审判权等概念成为日常法律用语的一部分。对于一个民主社会中的法律学习来说,理解这些语言是必不可少的。
Human right: A basic right that every person is entitled to, regardless of who they are. Examples include the right to life, the right to education and freedom from torture.
人权:每个人无论自身状况如何都有权享有的基本权利。例子包括生命权、受教育权和免于酷刑的自由。
Equality: The principle that all people should be treated the same under the law, without discrimination on grounds of race, gender, disability or belief. Equality is a core value of the UK legal system.
平等:所有人在法律面前应被同等对待、不因种族、性别、残疾或信仰而受歧视的原则。平等是英国法律体系的核心价值。
Freedom of expression: The right to hold opinions and to share information and ideas without interference by the state. This freedom is protected by law but may be limited to protect national security or the rights of others.
表达自由:持有观点并分享信息和思想而不受国家干涉的权利。这一自由受法律保护,但为了保护国家安全或他人权利,可能受到限制。
Discrimination: Treating a person unfairly because of a personal characteristic. The Equality Act 2010 makes many forms of discrimination illegal in the UK.
歧视:因个人特征而不公平地对待某人。2010年《平等法案》规定英国的许多形式的歧视为非法。
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