📚 IGCSE Cambridge Law: Key Terms Memory Guide | IGCSE 剑桥法律：核心术语速记指南
Legal terminology can feel overwhelming at first because many words come from Latin or from technical English. This guide groups high-yield IGCSE Cambridge Law terms into clear sections, with English definitions and Chinese explanations side by side. Use the memory hooks to revise quickly before the exam.
法律术语一开始可能会让人感到吃力，因为许多词语源自拉丁语或专业英语。这份指南将 IGCSE 剑桥法律高频术语分成清晰的模块，并配以英文定义和中文解释。使用记忆钩子可以在考前快速复习。
1. Actus Reus and Mens Rea | 犯罪行为与犯罪意图
Most criminal offences require two building blocks: the guilty act and the guilty mind. Actus reus refers to the external element of the offence, such as taking property, striking another person, or causing damage. For result crimes, the prosecution must also prove causation, meaning the defendant’s conduct actually and legally caused the prohibited outcome.
大多数刑事犯罪需要两个基本要件：犯罪行为与犯罪意图。犯罪行为指的是犯罪的外部要素，例如拿走财产、殴打他人或造成损害。对于结果犯，控方还必须证明因果关系，即被告的行为在事实上和法律上导致了被禁止的后果。
Mens rea is the mental element. The main levels are intention, recklessness and negligence. Intention means the defendant acted with purpose or foresight of a virtually certain consequence. Recklessness means knowingly taking an unjustified risk. Negligence is falling below the standard of a reasonable person. Some offences, known as strict liability offences, do not require proof of mens rea for at least one element.
犯罪意图是心理要素。主要层级包括故意、轻率和过失。故意是指被告带着目的行事，或明知后果几乎必然发生。轻率是指明知风险不合理仍然冒险。过失是指未达到合理人的行为标准。有些犯罪被称为严格责任犯罪，至少有一个要素无需证明犯罪意图。
Actus reus + mens rea + causation = criminal liability
- Actus reus: the external or guilty act.
- Mens rea: the guilty mind or fault element.
2. Criminal Law vs Civil Law | 刑法与民法之辨
Criminal law deals with conduct harmful to society. The state, usually through a prosecutor such as the Crown Prosecution Service, brings the case against the defendant. If convicted, the defendant receives a punishment such as a fine, community order or imprisonment. The standard of proof is beyond reasonable doubt, meaning the magistrates or jury must be sure of guilt.
刑法处理对社会有害的行为。国家通常通过检察官（如皇家检察署）对被告提起诉讼。如果被判有罪，被告会受到罚款、社区矫正令或监禁等处罚。证明标准是排除合理怀疑，这意味着治安法官或陪审团必须确信有罪。
Civil law resolves disputes between individuals or organisations. The claimant sues the defendant for a remedy, often damages, an injunction or specific performance. The standard of proof is the balance of probabilities, meaning the claim is more likely than not to be true. Examples include contract, tort, family and employment disputes.
民法解决个人或组织之间的纠纷。原告起诉被告以获得救济，通常是损害赔偿、禁令或强制履行。证明标准是盖然性权衡，即该主张成立的可能性大于不成立。例子包括合同、侵权、家庭和雇佣纠纷。
- Criminal case: prosecutor v defendant; outcome = conviction or acquittal.
- Civil case: claimant v defendant; outcome = liable or not liable.
3. Sources of Law | 法律渊源
The main source of law in the English legal system is statute law, made by Parliament. Statutes are primary legislation, while delegated legislation is made by bodies given power under an Act of Parliament. Examples include regulations, orders and by-laws.
英格兰法律体系的主要法律渊源是由议会制定的成文法。成文法属于一级立法，而授权立法是由议会法案授权的机构制定的法律。例子包括条例、命令和地方法规。
Common law, also called case law or judge-made law, develops through judicial precedent. When judges decide cases, they create rules that may bind future courts. The part of the judgment that forms the binding rule is the ratio decidendi. Remarks made ‘by the way’ are obiter dicta and are not binding but may be persuasive.
普通法，又称判例法或法官造法，通过司法先例发展而来。法官在判决案件时，会创造可能约束未来法院的规则。判决中形成约束性规则的部分是判决理由。附带意见是法官“顺带”发表的评论，不具有约束力，但可能具有说服力。
Judges may also interpret statutes using the literal rule, golden rule, mischief rule and purposive approach. International treaties and retained EU law can be sources depending on the context.
法官还可以使用文义规则、黄金规则、缺陷规则和目的解释法来解释成文法。国际条约和保留的欧盟法律在特定语境下也可能成为法律渊源。
4. Court Hierarchy and Precedent | 法院层级与判例
The doctrine of precedent operates within a court hierarchy. Decisions of higher courts bind lower courts. In England and Wales, the Supreme Court is the highest court, followed by the Court of Appeal, High Court, Crown Court and magistrates’ courts. Civil cases may start in the County Court or High Court.
判例原则在法院层级体系内运作。上级法院的判决约束下级法院。在英格兰和威尔士，最高法院是最高级别的法院，其次是上诉法院、高等法院、刑事法院和治安法院。民事案件可能在郡法院或高等法院开始审理。
Binding precedent means a court must follow an earlier decision of a higher court if the material facts are similar. Persuasive precedent is not binding but may influence a judge, for example decisions of lower courts, obiter dicta or courts in other common law jurisdictions.
约束性先例是指如果重要事实相似，法院必须遵循上级法院先前作出的判决。说服性先例不具有约束力，但可能影响法官，例如下级法院的判决、附带意见或其他普通法法域法院的判决。
- Supreme Court: highest appeal court; binds all below.
- Court of Appeal: binds itself subject to exceptions.
- High Court: binds County Court and magistrates.
5. Contract Law Key Terms | 合同法核心术语
A contract requires offer, acceptance, consideration and intention to create legal relations. An offer is an expression of willingness to contract on stated terms. It must be distinguished from an invitation to treat, which is merely an invitation to others to make offers, such as goods displayed on a shelf.
合同需要要约、承诺、对价和建立法律关系的意图。要约是愿意按所述条款订立合同的意思表示。它必须与要约邀请相区别，要约邀请只是邀请他人提出要约，例如货架上陈列的商品。
Acceptance is the final and unconditional agreement to all terms of the offer. A counter-offer destroys the original offer. Consideration is something of value exchanged between the parties; it must be sufficient but need not be adequate. Intention to create legal relations separates binding agreements from social or domestic arrangements.
承诺是对要约所有条款的最终且无条件的同意。反要约消灭原始要约。对价是双方之间交换的有价值之物；它必须充分但不必等价。建立法律关系的意图将具有约束力的协议与社交或家庭安排区分开来。
- Offer: clear proposal.
- Invitation to treat: request for offers.
- Consideration: exchange of value.
- Counter-offer: rejection of original offer.
6. Tort Law Key Terms | 侵权法核心术语
A tort is a civil wrong that causes harm or loss, giving the victim a right to claim damages. The most common tort is negligence. To prove negligence, the claimant must establish duty of care, breach of duty, causation and damage.
侵权行为是造成伤害或损失的民事过错，使受害者有权索赔。最常见的侵权行为是过失侵权。要证明过失，原告必须确立注意义务、违反义务、因果关系和损害。
The neighbour principle from Donoghue v Stevenson says a person must take reasonable care to avoid acts or omissions that could foreseeably injure their neighbour. The standard is that of the reasonable person. Breach occurs if the defendant falls below that standard.
多诺霍诉史蒂文森案确立的邻人原则规定，一个人必须采取合理注意，避免可能预见会伤害其邻人的作为或不作为。标准是合理人的标准。如果被告未达到该标准，则构成违反义务。
- Duty of care: legal obligation not to harm.
- Breach: failing to meet the reasonable standard.
- Causation: link between breach and harm.
- Damage: loss that is not too remote.
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