法律英语基础词汇

合同翻译时，尤其是翻译商务合同时，常常由于选词不当而寻致词不达意或者意思模棱两可，有时甚至表达的是完全不同的含义。因此了解与掌握极易混淆的词语的区别是极为重要的，是提高合同翻译质量的关键因素之一，现把常用且易混淆的七对词语，用典型实例论述如下。

一、abide by 与 comply with

abide by 与 comply with 都有“遵守”的意思．但是当主语是“人”时，英译“遵守”须用 abide by。当主语是非人称时，则用 comply with 英译“遵守”。

例：

Both parties Shall abide by the contractual stipulations.

双方都应遵守合同规定。

All the activities of both parties shall comply with the contractual

stipulations.

双方的一切活动都应遵守合同规定

二、shipping advice 与 shipping instructions

shipping advice 是“装运通知”，是由出口商（卖主）发给进口商（买主）的。然而 shipping instructions 则是“装运须知”，是进口商（买主）发给出口商（卖主）的。另外要注意区分 delivery note (送货回执) 与delivery order

（交货单），vendor（卖主）与 vendee（买主），consignor（发货人）与 consignee（收货人）。上述这四对词语在英译时、极易发生笔误。

三、change A to B 与 change A into B

“把 A 改为 B”应该翻译成“change A to B”，而“把 A 折合成/兑换成 B”应该翻译成用“change A into B”，两者不可混淆。

例：

交货期改为 5 月并将人民币折合成美元。

Both parties agree that change the time of shipment to June and change

Renminbi into US dollar.

四、ex/per/by

源自拉丁语的介词 ex 与 per 有各自不同的含义。翻译由某轮船“运来”的货物时用 ex，由某轮船“运走”的货物用 Per，而由某轮船“承运”用 by。

例

由“维多利亚”轮运走/运来/承运的最后一批货将于 8 月 10 日抵达伦敦。

The last batch per/ex/by S.S. “Victoria” will arrive at London on 10th

August (S.S. = Steamship)

五、in 与 after

当英译“多少天之后”的时间时，往往是指“多少天之后”的确切的一天，所以必须用介词 in，而不能用 after，因为介词 after 指的是“多少天之后”的不确切的任何一天。

例

该货于 8 月 10 日由“东风”轮运出，41 天后抵达鹿纽约港。

The good shall be shipped per M.V. “Dong Feng” on 10th August and are

due to arrive at New York Port in 41 days. (M.V.= motor vessel)

注：这里如果改用after的话，就是指在41天之后的某一天到达，而不是41天后。

六、on/upon 与 after

当翻译“„„到后，就„„”时，用介词 on/upon，而不用 after，因为 after

表示“之后”的时间不明确。

例

发票货值须货到付给。

The invoice value is to be paid on/upon arrival of the goods.

七、by 与 before

当翻译终止时间时，比如“在某月某日之前”，如果包括所指定日期时，就用介词 by；如果不包括所指定日期，即指到所写日期的前一天为止，就要用介词

before。

例

卖方须在 6 月 15 日前将货交给买方。

The vendor shall deliver the goods to the vendee by June 15.(or: before

June 16，说明含 6 月 15 日在内。如果不含 6 月 15 日,就直接译为 by June

14 或者 before June 15。)

下面的14个法律词汇，不看表格右侧的标准翻译，你能译对几个呀？

英文

access right

非专业法律翻译

通行权

专业法律翻译

(父母对子女的)探视权

表见代理

无先例案件

法律解释

混合过失,共同过失

继受取得

不定期刑

判例汇编

法规竞合

捕获法

既判力原则

保全措施

三权分立

供役地所有人

apparent agency 明确的代理

case of first impression 未发生过的案件

construction of law 法律构建

contributory 被害人本身的过失

negligence

derivative acquisition 派生获得(所有权的)

indeterminate sentence 不特定刑罚

law reports 法律报告(普通法)

overlapping of laws 法律的重叠

prize law 奖惩法则

res judicata 已判决的事件

security measures 保安措施(诉讼)

separation of powers 权力的分开

servient owner 从属所有人

按照法律规定according to law

按照确定的份额分享权力：be entitled to rights in proportion to his proper

share of the credit

按照确定的份额分担义务：assume obligations in proportion to his proper

share of the debt

案例教学法case system

案例汇编case book; case report; law report

柏拉图 Plato

被视为be deemed as

被宣布为非法be outlawed; be declared illegal

比较法comparative law

比较法学comparative jurisprudence

比较法学派school of comparative jurisprudence

比较法制史 comparative legal history

比较分析法method of comparative analysis

比较刑法comparative penal law

比较刑法学comparative penal jurisprudence

必然因果关系positive causal relationship

边缘法学borderline jurisprudence

变通办法adaptation; accommodation

补充规定supplementary provision

补救办法remedial measures

不成文法unwritten law

不成文宪法unwritten constitution

不动产所在地法律 law of the place where the real property is situated;

lex loci rei immobilisci

不可分割的权利impartible right

不可抗力 force majeure

不可侵犯性inviolability

不可让与性inalienability

不履行法律义务non-performance of obligation

不要式行为informal act

不要因的法律行为non-causal juristic act

不因实效而丧失的权利imprescriptible right

不作为abstain from an act; act of omission

部门法department law

部门规章regulation

参照 consult

参照具体情况 in the light of actual conditions

参照原文 consult the original

查士丁尼法典 Code Justinian; Codex Justinianus

查士丁尼法规汇编 Authenticum

超出法律范围的 outside of law

超出法律权限的 extralegal

超过权限 exceed authority; beyond jurisdiction

成文法 written law

成文宪法 written constitution

冲突法 conflict of laws; rules of conflict

冲突规则 conflict rule; rule of conflict

除（本法）另有规定外 except for otherwise stipulated (by this law)

除外条款 provisory clause

除外责任条款 exclusion clause

触犯公共利益 encroach on the public interests

触犯国际利益 go against the state’s interests

触犯人民利益 encroach on the interests of the people; go against the

people’s interests

传统法律观念 traditional ideas of law

纯粹法学 pure theory of law

次要法规 by law

次要规则 secondary rule

从宽解释原则 doctrine of liberal construction

从权利 accessory right

达到法定年龄 come of age

大法 the fundamental law

大法官 Lord High Chancellor

大法官法院Court of Chancery

大陆法系 Continental Legal System

大律师 barrister

《大明律》Criminal Law of the Ming Dynasty（中）

大陪审团 grand jury

《大清律例》the Criminal Laws of the Qing Dynasty (中)

《大宪章》(1215) Great Charter, 1215(英)

单行法规 specific regulations

单一法律体系 unitary legal system

单一制政府 unitary government

但书 proviso

当代法学动向current trend of jurisprudence

当然解释 natural interpretation

党纪国法party discipline and the law of the country

道德规范norm of morality

道德义务 moral obligation

《德国民法典》German Civil code

德拉古 Draco

地方各级人民代表大会 local people’s congresses at different levels

地方各级人民法院local people’s courts at different levels

地方各级人民检察院local people’s procuratorates at different levels

地方各级人民政府local people’s governments at different levels

第二读 second reading

第三读 third reading

二元论the dualistic theory

二元君主立宪制 dual constitutional monarchy system

二元论 the dualistic theory

二元论者dualist

二元制 bicameral system

法的本质 the nature of law

法的变化changes of law

法的定义definition of law

法的发展development of law

法的分类 divisions of law

法的概念concepts of law

法的规范作用normalized usage of law

法的继承succession of law

法的精神 spirit of law

法的可预测性foreseeability of law

法的类型types of law

法的历史类型的更替 the replacement of one historical mode of law by

another

法的历史渊源 historical origin of law

法的连续性continuity of law

法的内容contexts of law

法的社会作用 social usage of law

法的生效operation of law

法的实现realization of law

法的特征character of law

法的现象legal phenomenon

法的消亡 withering away of law

法的形式渊源formal source of law

法的要素elements of law

法的渊源source of law

法的职能function of law

法的作用role of law

法典code; statute book

法典编纂 codification of codes

法定成年人的年龄age of majority; legal age

法定程序legal procedure

法定处罚statutory penalty

法定代理人：agent ad litem

法定解释statutory interpretation

法定量刑情节 legally prescribed circumstances of sentencing

法定年龄 legal age; lawful age

法定年龄限制 a statutory age limit

法定期间 prescribed time

法定期限 legal term

法定权利 legal right; right entitled by law

法定权限 limits of power prescribed by law

法定人数 quorum

法定日 appointed day

法定时间 appointed time

法定时效 statutory prescription

法定条件 legal condition

法定限制 statutory restrictions

法定效力 statutory force

法定刑 legally-prescribed punishment

法定形式 legal form

法定责任 statutory duty

法定追溯期 time of legal memory

法定最高刑 maximum statutory penalty; maximum statutory sentence

法官 judge

法官的自由裁量权 judge’s power of discretion

法官权力范围 extent of judge’s power

法官心证 judge’s mental impression

法官中立原则 Nemo debt esse judex in propria causa

法规编纂 condification of laws and regulations

法规的解释 interpretation of statutes

法规汇编 corpus of the laws and regulations

《法国民法典》Code Civile de Francais (法)

法理 jurisprudence; principle of law

法理学家 jurisprudent

法律保护 legal protection

法律编纂 codification

法律标准 legal standards

法律补救 legal redress

法律部门 legal department

法律草案 draft regulations

法律措施 legal measures

法律大全 Corpus legume

法律的本土化和改写 the localization and adaptiion of laws

法律的本质 essence of law

法律的地位 position of law

法律的定义 definition of law

法律的废止 abolishment of law

法律的公共秩序论 public order theory of law

法律的规范性 normalization of law

法律的继承 succession of law

法律的理想ideal of law

法律的权威 authority of law

法律的失效lapse of law

法律的实施administration of law; law enforcement

法律的适用application of law

法律的统一 unification of law

法律的推定 presumption of law

法律的推理 analogy of law

法律的完整性 integrity of law

法律的效力范围 force’s scale of law

法律的效力形式 force’s form of law

法律的修改alteration of law

法律的演进 evolution of law

法律的原理 principle of law

法律地位平等equal in legal status

法律对人的效力personal act of law

编纂法律方法 legal methodology

法律分类 classification of law

法律赋予权力 authority conferred by law

法律改革 law reform

法律概念 legal concept

法律根据 legal basis

法律工作者 legal professional

法律关系legal relation

法律英语

法律关系的运行 process of legal relation

法律关系客体 object of legal relation

法律关系主体 subject of legal relation

法律规定provisions of law

法律规范 norm of law

法律规范的逻辑结构 logical structure of legal rule

法律规则体系 system of legal rules

法律含义 intendment of law

法律另有规定：otherwise stipulated by law

法律现象legal phenomenon

法律研究legal research

法律要件 legal requirement

法律依据 legal basis

法律意见 legal advice

法律意见书 legal opinion

法律意识 law-consciousness

法律意义 legal sense

法律用语 legal language

法律与正义先验论 a prior theory of law and justice

法律渊源 source of law

法律原本注释 gloss

法律原理 legal doctrines

法律原则 principle of legality

法律援助legal aid

法律约束 legal binding; legal restraint

法律责任 legal responsibility

法律责任的道义基础 moral basic of legal obligation

法律责任的归结 imputaton of legal responsibility

法律责任的认定 determination of legal responsibility

法律责任的执行 enforcement of legal responsibility

法律责任客体 object of legal responsibility

法律责任主体 subject of legal responsibility

法律哲学 philosophy of law; philosophie du droit

法律政策 policy of the law

法律职业道德 legal ethics

法律指导 legal counsel

法律制裁 legal sanction

法律制度 regime of law; legal system

法律秩序 legal order

法律主体资格 capacity as a subject of law

法律主张 proposition of law

法律属地原则 territoriality of laws

法律著述 legal literature

法律专家 legal expert

法律专业 legal profession

法律专著和教科书 legal treatise and textbook

法律咨询 legal advice

法律尊严 legal sanctity

法盲 legal illiterates

法权 right

；philosophia juris （法）

法社会学 sociology of law

法系 legal system

法协会 law society

法学 jurisprudence

法学博士 doctor of jurisprudence

法学导论 leading principles of law

法学的范畴体系 the system of categories of jurisprudence

法学的范畴意识 the consciousness of category of jurisprudence

法学的基石范畴 fundamental categories of jurisprudence

法学方法 method of jurisprudence

法学方法论 methodology of jurisprudence

法学会 law society

法学教科书 law textbooks

法学理论 theory of law; legal theory

法学权威 an academic authority in law

法学士 bachelor of law

法学体系 system of jurisprudence

法学通论 first principles of law

法学院 faculty of law; law school

法医 forensic medicine

法医学 forensic medicine

法院 court

法院调查 judicial investigation

法院管辖权 competence of court

法院管辖以外的 extrajudicial

法院判决 court decision

法院系统 court structure

法院组织法 judicature act

法则 articles

法哲学 philosophy of law

法制legal institution

法制传统 tradition of law system

法制的精神 spirit of legality

法制的尊严 dignity of the legal system

法制观念 legal concept

法制观念淡薄 very weak in the understanding of law

法制教育 legal education; education of legal system

法制史 legal history; history of legal system

法治 rule of law

法治的机制 the mechanism of rule of law

法治的要素 the element of rule of law

非实质的 immaterial

非营利的 non-profit

非约束性条款 permissive provision

废止法律 annulment of law

分别管辖权 separate jurisdiction

分别财产制 separation of property regime

分别规定 separate provision

分担责任 share the responsibility

分工负责，互相配合，互相制约 divide responsibility for their own work;

coordinate their efforts and check each other

分工负责制 division of labor responsibility system

分级管理 different levels holding different responsibilities

分配制度 distribution system

分析法理学 analytical jurisprudence

否决权 power veto; veto power

否认事实 denial of facts

服从法律 amenable to law; subject to the law

服从判决 accept a judgment

符合程序 be in order

符合法律 be in conformity with law

符合宪法 constitutionality

符合宪法的法律 constitutional law

符合原则 be in conformity with the principle

盖尤斯 Gaius

概括裁定 general verdict

概括继承 general succession

干扰司法公正 interference with course of justice

刚性条款 entrenched clause

刚性宪法 rigid constitution

岗位责任制 post responsibility system

高等法院 high court; high court of justice

高度集中 highly centralize

高度民主 high level of democracy

高度自治权 high degree of autonomy

高级法官 senior judge

高级法院superior court

高级人民法院 Higher People’ Court

高级人民检察院 Higher People’ Procuratortate

搁置 set aside; abeyance

格式条款 clause of style

公认的行为准则 established standard of conduct

规避法律 in fraud of law

规避义务 evade obligations

规范的法律规则 normative rule of law

规范法学 normative jurisprudence

规范性法律文件 normalizative document of law

规范性法律文件的规范化 normalization of normative legal document

国际法international law

国际法学 international jurisprudence

过错方 tort-feasor; wrongdoer

过错推定原则 doctrine of presumption

过错责任 liability for wrongs; tort liability

海事法院 court of admiralty

《汉穆拉比法典》 Code of Hammurabi

合并条款 consolidation of provisions

合法的个人财产 legal personal property

合法地位 legal status

合法权益 the lawful rights and interests

合法行为 lawful acts; legality of purpose

合宪性 constitutionality

衡平法 equity

衡平法规则 rule of equity

衡平法学 equity jurisprudence

衡平法院 Court of Chancery (美)；Court of Equity（英）

后法取代前法 A later statute takes away the effect of a prior one.

后法优于前法 lex posterior derogat priori

户籍所在地：the place where his residence is registered

互为因果 reciprocal causation

基本法 fundamental law

基本法律规范 basic norm of law

基本方针 basic policies

基本权利和义务 basic rights and duties

基本司法概念和假设 basic legal conception and assumption

技术性法规 technical legal rule

家庭法 family law

建立法律关系create legal relations

教会法 canon law

《教会法大全》Corpus Juris Canonici

教会法学家 decretalists

解释法律的技术规则 technical rule of interpretation

解释权 power of interpretation

近因 immediate cause

禁治产人 imbecile; interdicted person

经常居住地：habitual residence

经法律确认的 ascertained by law

经法律许可 authorized by law

经验法学 scholastic theories of law

纠问式审判 trial by inspection or examination

具有法律约束力的文件 legally binding instrument

具有同等效力的 with equal authenticity

具有约束力的判例 binding precedent

绝对衡平法 absolute equity

君主立宪制度 constitutional monarchy

开罗会议 Cairo Conference

凯恩斯主义 Keynesianism

可撤销的法律行为 revocable juristic act

可让与性 alienability

可用法律强制执行的 enforceable at law

可预见的 foreseeable

可直接适用的法律 directly applicable law

可追溯的 retrospective

客观条件 objective condition

客观因素 objective factor

客体 object

扩充解释 amplified interpretation

理论法理学派 theoretical jurisprudence school

理性决定说 theory of rational decision

理性认识 conceptual knowledge

历史法学 historical jurisprudence

历史法学派 historical school of law

历史解释 historical interpretation

立法机构legislative body

立法权 law-making power; legislative power

立法委任权 legislation mandate

立足翻译

立法效力 legislative effect

立法议案 bills

立法者 law-maker; legislator

立宪 constitutionalism

利益冲突 conflict of interests

利害关系人interested person

连带法律关系 joint legal relations

连带责任 joint and several obligation

论理解释 logical interpretation

罗马法Roman Law; Jus Romanum

罗马法系 Roman-Law System

罗马皇帝优士丁尼一世 Justinian I

罗马法理学 jurisprudential

《罗马法律汇编》Roman Digest

罗马法学派 school of Romanists

罗马－日耳曼法系 Roman-Germanic family

罗马私法 Jus Privatum

逻辑解释 logical interpretation

马伯里诉麦迪逊案 Marbury vs. Madison

马克思主义法律理论 Marxism-leninism

马克思主义法学 Marxist jurisprudence

马克思主义法学家 Marxist jurist

没有事实根据的 unsubstantial

美国国际法协会 American Institute of International Law

美国海事法庭 Admiralty Courts of the U.S.A.

美国联邦地区法院 United States district courts

美国联邦法官 federal judge

没有法律依据的 lawless

没有判决先例的案件 case of first impression

《民法大全》Corpus Juris Civilis

民法典 civil code

民法法系Civil-Law System

民法通则： General Principles of the Civil Law

民法学 science of civil law

民事案件中“占有优势证据”的原则 “by a preponderance of evidence”civil cases

in

民事权利能力：the capacity for civil rights

民事权益：civil rights and interests

民事诉讼法学 Civil Procedure Law

民事制裁 civil punishment; civil sanction

民政部门：the civil affairs department

明代法规 laws and regulations of Ming Dynasty

明示或默示的 express or implied

默示表达 communication by implication

拿破仑法典 The Code Napolean

内部规章 internal regulations

纳妾制 concubinage

南京条约 (1843) Treaty of Nanking, 1843

拟制理论 fiction theory

拟制买卖 mancipatio

欧洲大陆法 continental law

偶然权利 contingent right

偶然因果关系 fortuitous causal relationship

偶然因素 accidentalia

偶因 accidental cause

排他的权利 right to exclude all others

派生的权利 derived right

派生取得 derivative acquisition

判例法系 Case Law System

普通法法系 Common-Law System

判例法系 Case Law System

判例汇编 reports; reports of judgments

普通法 common law

普通法法系 Common-Law System

普通法上的补偿 common-law remedy

普通法上的过失 common-law negligence

普通法上的留置权 common-law lien

普通法学 general jurisprudence

强制办法 coercive method

强制规定 mandatory provisions

强制性法规 mandatory rule of law

强制性条款 mandatory term

侵犯财产权 property torts

侵权行为法 tort law

侵权责任 tortious liability

清理法规 check up laws and regulations

区域性法律体系 regional system of laws

取证 obtain evidence

确权之诉 affirmative petitory action; cause for ownership affirmation

确认之诉 action for confirmation; actio confessoria

权威解释 authentic interpretation

人法 human law, statute personalia

人格减等 capitis deminutio

人身不可侵犯 inviolability of the person

人身非财产关系 personal non-property relations

人身关系 personal relation

任意解释 arbitrary interpretation

《日耳曼法》Germanic law

柔性宪法 flexible constitution

三权分立 separation of powers

善意推定 presumption of good faith

商法 commercial law

商法典 code of commerce

社会法学 sociological jurisprudence

社会关系 social relations

社会规范 social regulation

社会连带主义法学 social solidarism jurisprudence

社会契约论 theory of social contract

社会团体：social organization

社会主义法学 socialist jurisprudence

社会主义法制 socialist legal system; socialist rule of law

神法 divine law

神权说 theory of divine right

审查制度 censorship; inspection system

审计监督 supervise through auditing

审计监督权 power to supervise through auditing

生效条款 operative clause

失效法律 expired laws

失效日 expiry date

施行细则 implementary provisions

实证主义法学派 the positivist school

《十二表法》 Twelve Tables

实体法 material law; substantial law

实体法上的抗辩 substantial defense

实体权利 substantive right

实用主义法学 judicial pragmaticism

实在法 positive law

实在法学 positive jurisprudence

实在法学派 positivist

实在主义法学 positivist jurisprudence

实证法学 positive jurisprudence

实质条款 material stipulation

实质性的瑕疵 defect of substance

实质性解释 material interpretation

事实的推定 presumption of fact

事业单位：institution

适用法律 reference to the law; applicable law

适用范围 area of application; sphere of application

适用中国法律：be governed by the law of PRC (The law of PRC shall apply

to)

溯及既往原则 doctrine of retroactivity

溯及力 retrospect; retrospective effect

损害赔偿 damages

梭伦 Solon

弹性宪法 elastic constitution

特别程序 special procedure

特别但书 special proviso

特别法 special law

特殊主体 special subject

提案motion; overture; proposal

提出抗辩 raise a plea; raise a plead

条约法 law of treaties

同态复仇 retaliation

推定合法presumption of legality

停止生效cease to have effect

外国法 foreign law

外国法制史 foreign legal history

外国人待遇 foreigner treatment

完全民事权利能力：full capacity for civil conduct

完全丧失行为能力的人 person entirely incapable of legal transaction

完全无行为能力 absolute disability

万民法 jus gentium

违法构成要件 essential condition of delict

违宪 violation of constitution

乌尔比安 Ulpianus

无国籍人：stateless persons

无条件解释 unconditional interpretation

无效的法律 void law

无效法律行为 void act; act without legal effect

物权 property

西塞罗 Marcus Tullius Cicero

习惯法custom law

细则 detailed rules and regulations; details by-laws

狭义解释 narrow definition

下文另有规定者除外 except as hereinafter provided

先决条件 precedent condition; prerequisite

现实主义法学 realism jurisprudence

现行法律 current law; existing law

限制解释 restrictive interpretation

宪法的解释 interpretation of constitution

宪法修正案 constitution amendment

宪法学 constitutional jurisprudence

相对主义法学 relativist jurisprudence

新分析法学 new analytical jurisprudence

新律 New Law , Novellae

行为规范 code of conduct

学说编纂 the Pandekta

形式主义法学 formalist jurisprudence

亚里士多德 Aristotle

严格解释 strict interpretation

严重不法行为 aggravated misconduct; gross misbehavior

严重违法 break the law on a serious scale

要件 important condition; essential condition

一般客体 general object

一般权利能力 general legal capacity

一般主体 general subject

一事不再理的保证 guarantee against double jeorpardy

依法办案 handle cases according to law

依法独立行使职权 independent exercise of powers within the framework of

the law

依照法律的规定 as prescribed by law

以法律为准绳 take law as the criterion

依法治国 genuine rule of law; running the country according to law

义务性规范 obligatory rule

义务主体 subject of duty

英美法系 Anglo-American Legal System

永恒法 eternal law

优士丁尼法典 the Codex Justinianus

优士丁尼皇帝 Justinian

《优士丁尼民法大全》（《国法大全》）Corpus Juris Civilis

有法必依 ensure that laws are observed

有法律约束力 legally binding

有条件解释 conditional interpretation

有效期间 time of effect; term of validity

与法律规定不符 against the forms of the statute

与法律相抵触的行为act going against the law

域外效力 extraterritorial effect

援引法律条文 invoke a legal provision

（古罗马的）元老院 the Senate

约束力 binding; binding effect

在法律的范围内 within the law

暂行条例interim regulations; provisional regulation

整体法学 integrative jurisprudence

正当权益 justified rights; legitimate interests

正式解释 official interpretation

正式渊源 formal source

政法学院 institute of political science and law

知法犯法 deliberately break the law

执法必严 ensure that law’ enforcement be strict

执法人员 law enforcement officials

执行权 enforcement power

直接故意 actual intent; direct intent

直接后果 immediate consequence

直接客体 direct object

直接主体 direct subject

制定法 statute

制宪权constituent power

治外法权 extraterritoriality; extraterritorial jurisdiction

中端时效 interrupt the running of the statute of limitation

中国大陆的法律 law of China’ mainland

中国法制 Chinese legal system

中国法制史 Chinese legal history

中国特色的社会主义法制 socialist legal system with Chinese character

中华法系 Chinese legal system

主要法律体系principal legal system

自然法 natural law

自然法学派 natural law school

组成合议庭开庭审理：form a collegial panel to conduct the trial

最高国家权力机关 highest organ of state power

最高人民法院的解释 interpretation of supreme people’s court

遵循先例原则 The Doctrine of Stare

作为或不作为 act or omission

Glossary in British English

Please note however that this glossary is for guidance only and is not

intended as an exhaustive or comprehensive source of definitions. The

meanings provided are those commonly associated with the words and phrases

in a legal context and it should be borne in mind that those same words

and phrases may have a different meaning in a different context.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

Acknowledgement of Service Court form used by a party to legal proceedings

to confirm receipt of a Statement of Case (such as a claim form).

Acquittal A finding by a court of not guilty to a criminal charge.

Action Legal proceedings / Claim.

Advocacy Representing a party by means of spoken submission to a court

or tribunal.

Advocate A court lawyer.

Affidavit A written statement sworn on oath.

Agenda An itinerary or list of matters for discussion at a meeting.

Aggravated Damages Additional compensation awarded by a court to

compensate for particularly objectionable conduct on the part of the

Defendant.

Agreement Contract or arrangement agreed orally or in writing between

different parties.

Alibi A defence to a criminal charge based on the contention that the

accused was elsewhere when the crime is alleged to have been committed.

Appeal Challenge to the validity or correctness of a decision of a court

or tribunal (usually based on the contention that the law was incorrectly

interpreted).

Appellant Term used to describe a party appealing against a court or

tribunal decision.

Applicant Person or organization commencing Employment Tribunal

proceedings or making an application to court for a specific remedy prior

to trial.

Arrest The physical seizure of an individual (normally by a policeman)

on suspicion of a crime having been committed by that individual or to

prevent a crime being committed.

Attorney American term for lawyer.

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B

Bail The release of an individual from police custody pending further

appearance by that person in court or at a police station.

Barrister A lawyer who is a specialist court advocate and referred to as

‘counsel’ (often being instructed by a solicitor to appear in court on

behalf of a client).

Brief to Counsel Set of instructions prepared by a solicitor and provided

to a barrister, setting out details of a case (including relevant facts

and law etc.) to enable the barrister to provide representation in court

on behalf of a client.

Burden of Proof Term used to indicate which party the onus is placed on

to establish or prove a case and to what degree. E.g. in a civil case the

burden of proof is on the Claimant to establish the case on the ‘balance

of probabilities’ (whereas in a criminal case the prosecution must

normally establish the case beyond all reasonable doubt).

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C

Case-law Law created by court decisions, i.e. law created by cases which

provide precedents of relevance for future legal disputes (see

‘Precedent’ below).

Cause of Action The legal grounds or basis of a claim or ‘action’

commenced in court (e.g. breach of contract).

Case A legal dispute between specific parties.

Certificate of Incorporation Certificate issued by the Registrar of

Companies confirming that a company has been incorporated (i.e. legally

recognized as having been created).

Chambers Has two main meanings:

(1) to refer to a hearing in private as opposed to in open court (ref.

to as being ‘in chambers’) and

(2) to refer to a barrister’s place of work (‘counsel’s chambers’).

Charge Allegation (usually in writing) of specific criminal conduct

against an individual. (That individual is then said to have been

‘charged’ – such as with theft for instance.)

Civil Action / Proceedings Legal action based on a civil right (as opposed

to a criminal action) such as breach of contract, for instance.

Claim Form Court form used to commence legal proceedings in court.

Class Action A legal action commenced in the name of one or a few named

Claimants on behalf of a class of Claimants.

Client Term used by lawyers to refer to their ‘customers’.

Common Law Legal rules and principles founded on court decisions as

opposed to statutes or similar written laws or regulations.

Conference with Counsel Meeting between a barrister and a client (usually

in the presence of a solicitor).

Contempt of Court Refusal or failure to comply with a court order or

requirement.

Contingency Fees Fees charged by a lawyer for legal work which are based

on a percentage of the damages recovered on behalf of that client.

(Generally only permissible in the USA albeit contingency fees can be

charged in Employment Tribunal cases in the UK.)

Contract A legally enforceable agreement.

Contributory Negligence Degree to which a Claimant is deemed to have

contributed to or caused the accident or degree of injury for which damages

are being claimed. (Damages can be reduced to reflect this degree of

contributory negligence.)

Conviction A finding by a court or tribunal that an individual is guilty

of the offence charged. (That person is then said to have been‘convicted’

of the offence charged–e.g. theft.)

Corroboration Evidence from an independent source which substantiates a

party’s version of events.

Costs Term used to refer to legal costs or expenses of legal work conducted

by lawyers on behalf of clients.

Counsel Term used to refer to a barrister. (Barristers awarded the

distinction of being known as ‘Queen’s Counsel’ are known as ‘senior

counsel’; also a term in the US for an attorney.)

Counsel’s Opinion Legal advice proposed by a barrister.

Counterclaim A claim by a Defendant in legal proceedings who in turn

alleges that he has a legal claim against the Claimant.

County Court Civil court which usually deals with lower value civil cases.

Court List List or schedule prepared by a court which provides details

of the date and time that each trial or hearing is scheduled for.

Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) A Government scheme to

provide monetary compensation to victims of crimes of violence.

Cross-Examination Questioning of a witness in court by a party other than

the party calling that particular witness to provide evidence.

Crown Court Criminal court of the Supreme Court of England and Wales with

jurisdiction over the most serious criminal cases. (There are a number

of Crown Courts located throughout England and Wales.)

Custodial Sentence A sentence of imprisonment by a court or tribunal.

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D

Damages Monetary compensation (such as for personal injury).

Defense Statement of case setting out the legal grounds and details on

which a Defendant is defending legal proceedings being pursued against

that Defendant.

Defendant The party to legal proceedings against whom the claim is being

made by the Claimant.

Deposition A written or recorded witness statement taken on oath.

Directions A list of steps or instructions, usually issued by a court,

setting out the specific actions which each party in a legal action is

required to comply with prior to the case being heard in court. (In order

to ensure that the legal proceedings concerned proceed efficiently and

that the parties in the case have properly prepared their cases in

readiness for trial.)

Director Individual with management responsibilities within a company.

(All directors of a company are collectively referred to as the ‘board

of directors’.)

Disbursements Costs incurred in the course of legal work other than a

solicitor’s fees (e.g. travelling expenses and fees payable to expert

witnesses).

Discontinuance A situation whereby the Claimant in civil proceedings

voluntarily confirms that the case is no longer being pursued (i.e. is

being ‘discontinued’).

Disclosure Revealing to another party to legal proceedings the past or

present existence of evidential material (usually documents) which may

be relevant to the case.

Discovery The process whereby each party to legal proceedings reveals

details of documentation and information in their possession which may

be relevant to the case. (Thereby providing another party in the case with

the opportunity to inspect or obtain copies of such material. The court

usually orders that discovery should take place simultaneously between

the parties.)

District Judge A judicial officer of the County Court who acts as judge

in many straightforward County Court cases.

Documentary Evidence Evidence in written form (e.g. letters and contracts

etc.).

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E

Evidence Information and material (such as witness testimony and

documentation) relevant to a case and on which a court or tribunal bases

its findings.

Evidence in Chief Evidence elicited from a witness by the party calling

that witness.

Examination in Chief Questioning of a witness in court by the party calling

that particular witness to give evidence.

Exemplary Damages Additional compensation awarded by a court amounting

to more than the actual losses sustained by a party and intended as a

penalty to reflect the court’s particular disapproval of the Defendant’s conduct. (Usually only awarded in US courts, where some exemplary

damages awards have amounted to hundreds of millions of dollars.)

Exparte A hearing in court which takes place with one of the parties to

the proceedings being absent. (A more modern equivalent phrase now

commonly used is ‘without notice’.)

Expert Witness Witness called to provide evidence involving professional

expertise in a particular field which is relevant to a particular case

(e.g. a doctor).

Express Term Term or provision in an agreement which is specifically (i.e.

expressly) stated or written.

Extraordinary General Meeting Any general (shareholders’) meeting of

a company other than its Annual General Meeting (AGM).

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F

Further and Better Particulars More specific detail or information of

a specific aspect of the case referred to in the statements of case (court

documents). (Such further detail or information will usually be provided

in response to a request by a party for such further detail or information

in order to clarify the claim being made.)

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G

General Damages Compensation which can only be determined by reference

to previous cases of a similar nature or by the court (including for

instance damages for pain and suffering).

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H

High Court Civil court which deals with higher value civil cases.

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I

I.e. Abbreviation for Latin phrase ‘id est’ and meaning ‘that is’ or

‘in other words’.

Illegal Against the law. (E.g. stealing is illegal.)

Implied Term Term of an agreement not expressly stated but recognised in

law by virtue of the obvious understanding between the parties or by their

conduct or the circumstances of the agreement. (An implied term can also

be imposed by statute, e.g. implied term of satisfactory quality.)

In Camera In private. (E.g. a court hearing closed to the public is

sometimes referred to as being ‘in camera’.)

Injunction A court order compelling a person to do or refrain from doing

something.

In Open Court A trial or court hearing in public.

Instructions to Counsel Written information prepared by a solicitor and

provided to a barrister to enable that barrister to provide advice to a

client or to draft legal documentation on behalf of a client. Such

‘instructions to counsel’ usually include a summary of the facts of the

case, relevant law and any relevant supporting documentation.

Interim Order An order made by a court prior to the final trial or hearing

of a particular case (e.g. an order for directions setting out the further

steps each party is required to take prior to trial).

Interlocutory Application / Hearing / Order An application to court,

court hearing or court order made prior to trial.

Inter partes Term used to refer to a court hearing at which all parties

are present (as opposed to an ‘ex-parte’ hearing at which at least one

party is absent).

Interrogatory A request for further information.

Issue (of Proceedings) To commence legal proceedings by lodging relevant

papers at court (such as a claim form). (This is referred to as ‘issuing

proceedings’.)

Intellectual Property Law relating to copyright, rights to inventions

(patents) and trademarks etc.

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J

Judge Trier or adjudicator of a case responsible for making findings of

law (and sometimes of fact albeit also see ‘jury’ below).

Judg(e)ment A decision or declaration of the court, usually setting out

the court’s findings and details of any damages (compensation) or other

remedy which the court has decided to grant to any party in the case.

Jurisdiction The authority to decide and enforce the law. (E.g. the County

and High Courts have jurisdiction to try breach of contract cases in

England and Wales.)

Jury Group of individuals (usually 12) who make findings of fact in the

most serious criminal cases (usually in the Crown Court in England and

Wales).

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L

Law A system of rules and regulations governing and determining

permissible conduct within society.

Leading Question A question which suggests the answer or which implies

the existence of some particular fact(s) or circumstances.

Leave Permission. (E.g. to seek ‘leave of the court’ is to seek permission

of the court.)

Legal Privilege A legal right to refuse to disclose or produce

documentation or other evidence on the basis of some special interest

recognised by law. (Typically relating to the legally recognized right

for discussions and correspondence between lawyer and client to remain

‘privileged’ and thus protected from disclosure.)

Letter Before Action Correspondence sent by a prospective Claimant or his

legal advisor intimating to another party an intention to commence legal

action against that other party along with brief details of the proposed

legal action. (Note that a more modern equivalent is ‘letter of claim’.)

Letter of Claim Modern term for ‘letter before action’ (see above).

Liability Legal responsibility to comply with or discharge a legal

obligation or indebtedness.

Limitation Period The time-limit prescribed by law in which a Claimant

must commence a claim in court. Failure to issue the claim in court within

this time-limit will usually result in the Claimant losing the legal right

to pursue that particular claim. (E.g. the limitation period for a

personal injury claim is three years in the UK.)

Listing for Trial Procedure for providing the court with final

documentation and information in order to enable the court to finalize

a date for trial.

Litigant A party to legal proceedings (i.e. to litigation – see below).

Litigation Legal action / proceedings involving a dispute between

parties.

Liquidated Damages A term used to refer to a specifically quantifiable

amount of monetary compensation which a Claimant is seeking from another

party. (I.e. a sum which can be precisely calculated as opposed to an

amount which is variable at the court’s discretion.)

Locus Location of an incident, particularly of an accident.

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M

Magistrates’ Court Criminal Court in England and Wales which tries the

relatively less serious criminal cases. (Usually conducted by a

‘Magistrate’.)

Member A company shareholder.

Minutes Record of matters discussed and decided in the course of

directors’ and shareholders’ meetings.

Minor An individual under 18 years of age.

Mitigation A term used in criminal law to refer to submissions seeking

to justify or at least provide some explanation for a party’s conduct

and aimed at persuading a court or tribunal to show some sympathy towards

that party. (See also ‘Mitigation of Damages’ below.)

Mitigation of Damages A term used in civil law to refer to efforts made

by a Claimant to minimize or alleviate loss and damage sustained.

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N

Negligence Used in a legal sense to refer to a failure to comply with a

duty of care towards others imposed by law or by generally accepted

standards.

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O

Oral Evidence Spoken (as opposed to documentary) evidence.

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P

Party Person or organization entering into an agreement or engaged in

legal proceedings.

Plaintiff Person or party commencing a legal action. Note that the term

‘Claimant’ is now used in English courts in place of ‘Plaintiff’ (the

term ‘Plaintiff’ still being in general use however in American courts).

Pleadings A term previously used to refer to the court documents setting

out each party’s case and now largely superseded by the term ‘Statements

of Case’.

Poll Means of voting at shareholders’ meetings whereby votes on a

particular resolution are counted on the basis of the number of voting

shares held by each person voting (as opposed to ‘on a show of hands’).

Precedent Existing document, draft or court decision which is relevant

to and used as the basis for subsequent legal drafting or decisions.

(‘Doctrine of Precedent’ refers to a concept whereby previous court

decisions establish the general legal position for subsequent legal

disputes involving similar circumstances.)

Privilege (See ‘Legal Privilege’ above.)

Proceedings Term used to refer to an ongoing court action (known as court

or legal proceedings).

Proxy An individual appointed to represent a shareholder at a

shareholders’ meeting.

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Q

Quantum (of Damages) The level or amount of monetary compensation (damages)

awarded by a court or agreed between the parties to a case by negotiation.

Quash Over-rule or annul a previous court decision.

Queen’s Counsel A title bestowed on barristers who have demonstrated a

high level of professional expertise and competence. Barristers appointed

as ‘Queen’s Counsel’ may use the letters ‘QC’ after their names and

are sometimes referred to as ‘silks’ or ‘Leading Counsel’.

Quorum Minimum number required to be present at a meeting in order for

decisions taken at that meeting to be valid.

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R

Registered Office Official address of a company as recorded with the

Registrar of Companies at which official documents and legal proceedings

can be served on a company.

Registrar of Companies Official responsible for maintaining the ‘Company

Registry’ recording details of incorporated companies.

Remedy The specific means by which a party receives restitution or

satisfaction for loss caused by another. (E.g. the usual remedy for

personal injury is damages.)

Resolution A decision made by members of a company.

Respondent Person defending an application to court for a specific order

or defending Employment Tribunal proceedings.

Return Date Date set by a court for an interlocutory hearing.

Restrictive Covenant Clause to prevent an employee competing etc. with

his/her employer.

Rights of Audience Right to appear in and address a particular court or

tribunal.

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S

Service Provision or delivery of court documentation (such as a claim form

or notice of a forthcoming court hearing etc.). A person receiving such

documentation is referred to as having been ‘served’.

Set Aside A subsequent order or direction from a court cancelling a

previous judgment or order (referred to as ‘setting aside’ the previous

order or direction).

Setting Down for Trial Now usually referred to as ‘listing for trial’.

(See ‘Listing for Trial’ above.)

Settlement An agreement reached between parties to a legal dispute which

concludes that dispute.

Shareholder Owner of shares in a company (i.e. who is a ‘member’ of that

company).

Solicitor A lawyer who prepares cases and legal transactions on behalf

of a client (often instructing a barrister to provide representation in

court).

Special Damages Actual financial losses which can be specifically

ascertained as having been incurred between the date the cause of action

arose and the date of trial. (E.g. loss of earnings up to trial and property

damage sustained etc.)

Standard of Proof The criterion or degree of proof required in order for

a party to establish its case. (E.g. in civil cases the standard of proof

is ‘on the balance of probabilities’ whereas in a criminal case it is

usually ‘beyond all reasonable doubt’.)

Statute Legislation in the form of written laws and regulations (such as

‘Acts of Parliament’ created by the UK Parliament).

Stay A halt to court proceedings. Proceedings which are thus ‘stayed’

do not continue any further (although a stay can subsequently be ‘lifted’

to enable those proceedings to continue).

Strike Out To ‘strike out’ means that the court has ordered that a

particular aspect of a case (such as particular written details in a

statement of case) is to be removed from the court records and can

therefore no longer be relied upon. The court can strike out an entire

case if a party is sufficiently dilatory in complying with steps required

by the court, thereby effectively terminating those proceedings.

Subpoena Witness summons requiring a witness to attend court to give

evidence.

Sue Informal term meaning to issue legal proceedings.

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T

Testimony Statement or assertion made to a court by a witness.

Tort A breach of a duty imposed by civil law (e.g. negligence).

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U

Unliquidated Damages Damages (monetary compensation) which cannot be

precisely quantified upon commencement of legal proceedings (as opposed

to liquidated damages which can–see above).

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V

Vicarious Liability A legal concept whereby a person or entity can be held

liable for the fault or wrongdoing of another. (A typical example of this

is an employer being liable for the negligence of an employee acting in

the course of his employment, i.e. vicariously liable.)

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W

Without Prejudice A legal concept whereby oral or written communication

can be entered into between parties with a view to reaching a negotiated

settlement. I.e. on the basis that the details of such communication

cannot be disclosed to the court or relied upon in court in the event that

a settlement is not achieved.

Writ Court form traditionally used to commence legal proceedings in court.

(Note that claim forms are now used far more commonly for commencing legal

proceedings.)

普通法的基础是中世纪时罗马教会施行的罗马法，而罗马法是用拉丁文写成和实施的，故当今的法律英语中留下许多拉丁词汇是不足为奇的。以下拉丁词汇按字母排序。点击字母首字，进行相应词汇查询

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

A bon droit 以正当理由

Ab initio 从开始起，自始

A coelo usque ad centrum 土地所有者的权利范围

A contrario sensu 从另方面来说

Ad damunm 就损害而言

A dessein 故意

Affidavit 宣誓作证书，书面陈述，书面证词

A fortiori 更不用说

A gratia 恩赐

A latere 附属的

Alias 化名

Alibi 不在犯罪现场证明

A mere scientilla 仅一点，微弱的

Amicus curiae 法官的顾问

A posteriori 推溯的

A priori 推理的

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B

Biens 财产

Biens immeubles 不动产

Biens meubles 动产

Bigamus 重婚者

Bilan 资产负债表

Billa 起诉状

Bona fide 善意，善意的

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C

Cambiale jus 交易法

Cambium 汇兑

Cambium reale 土地交换

Camera Regis 国王议事厅

Cancellaria curia 衡平法院

Capax doli 犯罪能力

Capax negotii 处理事务的能力

Capias 拘票

Corpus delicti 犯罪事实

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D

Darrein 最终的

De 从，关于

De assisa continuanda 延审令状

De bonis asportatis 取走财物

De bonis non 已故遗产管理人的后继人

De dato 即日起

De die in diem 逐日

De facto 事实上的

De facto 事实婚姻

De facto subjectee 事实上的国民

De fide 该作信条遵守的

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E

en bloc 全体

en bloc vote 全体票决

en ventre sa mere 腹中胎儿

enquete par turbe 习惯法认可调查

entrepot 中转

epistates 首席执法官

epistulae 信函

ergo omnes 完全

ex parte 指单方的,一般指在对方不在场，不在辨的情况下单方面提出控诉或者Ex parte decision指法官在没有听过控辩双方陈词的基础上做出的结论

ex post facto 事后的

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F

fait accompli 既成事实

fait juridique 法律事实

falsa demonstratio 虚伪描写

falsus 虚伪的

familia 家族

familiae emptor 遗嘱执行人

famosus 诽谤人格

famosus libellus 损害名誉的诽谤

faute de service 公务过失

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G

guardian ad litem 监护人

germanus 纯血亲

gratis 无偿地

gratis dictum 空言

gross modo 大体上

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H

habeas corpus 人身保护权

haereditas 继承权

haereditas ab intestato 无遗嘱继承人

haeres 继承人

haeres natus 亲生的继承人

haeres suus 直系继承人

heares legitimus 合法继承人

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I

ibidem 出处同上

id est 即

idem 同上

idem genus 同类

idem sonans 同音姓名

impubes 未成年人

in articulo 立即

in articulo mortis 临死时

in autre droit 凭他人权力

in bonis habere 所有权

in capita 按人头

in flagrante delicto 在作案现场

in locum parentis 代理父母地位，它描述的是那些为孩子的利益着想而承担起父母职责的人。

in re 对于

in rem 对物（指判决的对象是物或财产）诉讼地（的）

inter alia，系拉丁语，意谓“除了别的以外（among other things）在其他事物中”。在法律文件书信中，经常会出现这个拉丁词，意思是在”当中列出这一项”，即是尚有其它事项。

inter partes 当事人之间

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J

jus abstinendi 抛弃权得

jus abutendi 滥用权