In English, "crime" is an illegal action, and "law" is the system of rules that defines what is legal and illegal. A person commits a crime, and the police and courts enforce the law. "Criminal" describes actions or people connected to crimes, while "legal" describes actions permitted by law. These words often appear together, but they name different things: the act, the rule, and the system.

English often groups crimes by seriousness and context. "Violent crime" involves harm or threat to people, while "property crime" involves taking or damaging belongings. "White-collar crime" usually involves money and business dishonesty, and "cybercrime" involves computers and online systems. The same act can be described with different terms depending on what happened and who was affected.

Word/Phrase	🇨🇳 中文 Word/Phrase	Definition	🇨🇳 中文 Definition	Example	🇨🇳 中文 Example
violent crime	🔹 violent crime	crime involving physical harm or threats	crime involving physical harm or threats	Assault is a violent crime.	🔹 Assault is a violent crime.]},{
property crime	🔹 property crime	crime involving theft or damage to property	crime involving theft or damage to property	Burglary is a property crime.	🔹 Burglary is a property crime.
white-collar crime	🔹 white-collar crime	financial or business-related crime	financial or business-related crime	Fraud is a common white-collar crime.	🔹 Fraud is a common white-collar crime.
cybercrime	🔹 cybercrime	crime carried out using computers or the internet	crime carried out using computers or the internet	Hacking can be prosecuted as cybercrime.	🔹 Hacking can be prosecuted as cybercrime.

Crime and law vocabulary often focuses on roles. The "suspect" is a person the police think may be involved, and the "defendant" is the person accused in court. The "victim" is the person harmed, and the "witness" provides information. In court, the "judge" manages the trial and applies the law, while "lawyers" argue each side, and a "jury" may decide guilt in some cases.

Word/Phrase	🇨🇳 中文 Word/Phrase	Definition	🇨🇳 中文 Definition	Example	🇨🇳 中文 Example
suspect	👤 suspect	person believed possibly involved in a crime	person believed possibly involved in a crime	Police questioned the suspect.	👤 Police questioned the suspect.
defendant	👤 defendant	person accused in court	person accused in court	The defendant pleaded not guilty.	👤 The defendant pleaded not guilty.
victim	👤 victim	person harmed by a crime	person harmed by a crime	The victim called the police.	👤 The victim called the police.
witness	👤 witness	person who saw or knows something relevant	person who saw or knows something relevant	A witness identified the car.	👤 A witness identified the car.
prosecutor	👤 prosecutor	lawyer representing the state	lawyer representing the state	The prosecutor presented evidence.	👤 The prosecutor presented evidence.
defense lawyer	👤 defense lawyer	lawyer representing the defendant	lawyer representing the defendant	The defense lawyer challenged the claim.	👤 The defense lawyer challenged the claim.
judge	👤 judge	official who oversees court proceedings	official who oversees court proceedings	The judge set the bail amount.	👤 The judge set the bail amount.
jury	👤 jury	group that decides guilt in some trials	group that decides guilt in some trials	The jury reached a verdict.	👤 The jury reached a verdict.

English separates police actions into stages: investigation, contact, and custody. Police may "investigate" by collecting information, "question" people, and "search" places when allowed by law. If there is legal justification, they may "arrest" someone and take them into "custody." "Charge" means the state formally accuses a person of a crime, often after an arrest but sometimes later.

Word/Phrase	🇨🇳 中文 Word/Phrase	Definition	🇨🇳 中文 Definition	Example	🇨🇳 中文 Example
investigate	🚓 investigate	try to discover facts about a crime	try to discover facts about a crime	Detectives investigated the robbery.	🚓 Detectives investigated the robbery.
question	🚓 question	ask someone for information	ask someone for information	Officers questioned the driver.	🚓 Officers questioned the driver.
search	🚓 search	look for evidence in a person or place	look for evidence in a person or place	Police searched the apartment.	🚓 Police searched the apartment.
arrest	🚓 arrest	take someone into custody	take someone into custody	He was arrested at the scene.	🚓 He was arrested at the scene.
custody	🚓 custody	control by police after arrest	control by police after arrest	She is in police custody.	🚓 She is in police custody.
charge	🚓 charge	formally accuse of a crime	formally accuse of a crime	They charged him with theft.	🚓 They charged him with theft.

"Evidence" is information used to show what happened, and it can be physical objects, documents, recordings, or statements. A "testimony" is what a witness says in court, while "forensic evidence" comes from scientific analysis. "Proof" is a general word for convincing support, but legal systems often talk about meeting a standard such as proving something "beyond a reasonable doubt." Strong evidence supports a claim; weak evidence may raise questions but not confirm it.

Word/Phrase	🇨🇳 中文 Word/Phrase	Definition	🇨🇳 中文 Definition	Example	🇨🇳 中文 Example
evidence	🧾 evidence	information used to support a claim	information used to support a claim	The evidence was presented in court.	🧾 The evidence was presented in court.
testimony	🧾 testimony	a witness statement given in court	a witness statement given in court	Her testimony was detailed.	🧾 Her testimony was detailed.
forensic evidence	🧾 forensic evidence	scientific evidence from analysis	scientific evidence from analysis	DNA is forensic evidence.	🧾 DNA is forensic evidence.
surveillance footage	🧾 surveillance footage	video recorded by security cameras	video recorded by security cameras	Surveillance footage showed the suspect.	🧾 Surveillance footage showed the suspect.
beyond a reasonable doubt	🧾 beyond a reasonable doubt	high standard required to convict	high standard required to convict	The jury must be sure beyond a reasonable doubt.	🧾 The jury must be sure beyond a reasonable doubt.

A criminal case often moves through common steps with specific terms. An "arraignment" is a court hearing where the defendant hears the charges and enters a plea. A "trial" is where both sides present arguments and evidence, and a "verdict" is the final decision about guilt. A "sentence" is the punishment decided by the judge after a conviction, while an "appeal" is a request for a higher court to review the decision.

Word/Phrase	🇨🇳 中文 Word/Phrase	Definition	🇨🇳 中文 Definition	Example	🇨🇳 中文 Example
arraignment	⚖️ arraignment	hearing where charges and plea are stated	hearing where charges and plea are stated	The arraignment is scheduled for Monday.	⚖️ The arraignment is scheduled for Monday.
plea	⚖️ plea	formal response to a charge	formal response to a charge	He entered a guilty plea.	⚖️ He entered a guilty plea.
trial	⚖️ trial	formal court examination of a case	formal court examination of a case	The trial lasted two weeks.	⚖️ The trial lasted two weeks.
verdict	⚖️ verdict	decision of guilt or not guilt	decision of guilt or not guilt	The verdict was not guilty.	⚖️ The verdict was not guilty.
convict	⚖️ convict	officially find someone guilty	officially find someone guilty	They convicted him of assault.	⚖️ They convicted him of assault.
sentence	⚖️ sentence	punishment given after conviction	punishment given after conviction	The sentence included probation.	⚖️ The sentence included probation.
appeal	⚖️ appeal	request a higher court review	request a higher court review	She appealed the conviction.	⚖️ She appealed the conviction.

English has different words for punishments and legal outcomes. "Fine" means paying money, and "community service" requires unpaid work. "Probation" allows a person to stay in the community under rules and supervision, while "parole" is early release from prison under conditions. "Acquittal" means the person is found not guilty, while "conviction" means the person is found guilty.

Word/Phrase	🇨🇳 中文 Word/Phrase	Definition	🇨🇳 中文 Definition	Example	🇨🇳 中文 Example
fine	🔸 fine	money paid as punishment	money paid as punishment	He paid a fine for the offense.	🔸 He paid a fine for the offense.
community service	🔸 community service	unpaid work ordered by a court	unpaid work ordered by a court	She completed 100 hours of community service.	🔸 She completed 100 hours of community service.
probation	🔸 probation	supervised release instead of prison	supervised release instead of prison	He is on probation for a year.	🔸 He is on probation for a year.
parole	🔸 parole	conditional early release from prison	conditional early release from prison	She was granted parole.	🔸 She was granted parole.
imprisonment	🔸 imprisonment	punishment of being kept in prison	punishment of being kept in prison	The law allows imprisonment for this crime.	🔸 The law allows imprisonment for this crime.
acquittal	🔸 acquittal	result of being found not guilty	result of being found not guilty	The acquittal ended the case.	🔸 The acquittal ended the case.
conviction	🔸 conviction	result of being found guilty	result of being found guilty	A conviction can affect employment.	🔸 A conviction can affect employment.

Many legal terms describe a person’s mental state and how serious an act is. "Intent" means a plan or purpose to do something, while "negligence" means failing to take reasonable care. "Premeditated" suggests planning in advance, which can increase seriousness. Words like "felony" and "misdemeanor" are common categories, with felonies usually more serious than misdemeanors, though exact meanings depend on the country or state.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 Rule	Example	🇨🇳 中文 Example
Use intent for planned purpose	📌 Use intent for planned purpose	The prosecutor argued he had intent.	📌 The prosecutor argued he had intent.
Use negligence for lack of reasonable care	📌 Use negligence for lack of reasonable care	The accident was caused by negligence.	📌 The accident was caused by negligence.
Premeditated implies planning before the act	📌 Premeditated implies planning before the act	They described it as a premeditated attack.	📌 They described it as a premeditated attack.
Felony is typically more serious than misdemeanor	📌 Felony is typically more serious than misdemeanor	Theft can be a misdemeanor or a felony.	📌 Theft can be a misdemeanor or a felony.

English separates "criminal law" and "civil law". Criminal cases involve crimes against the state or society and can lead to punishment like prison or fines. Civil cases are disputes between people or organizations, often about money or responsibilities, and outcomes may include damages or court orders. Some situations can involve both, such as an assault leading to a criminal case and also a civil lawsuit for damages.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 Rule	Example	🇨🇳 中文 Example
Criminal cases are brought by the state	📘 Criminal cases are brought by the state	The state filed criminal charges.	📘 The state filed criminal charges.
Civil cases are disputes between parties	📘 Civil cases are disputes between parties	She filed a civil lawsuit for damages.	📘 She filed a civil lawsuit for damages.
Civil outcomes often involve compensation	📘 Civil outcomes often involve compensation	The court awarded damages to the plaintiff.	📘 The court awarded damages to the plaintiff.
One event can lead to both case types	📘 One event can lead to both case types	There was a criminal trial and a civil claim.	📘 There was a criminal trial and a civil claim.

In news and daily conversation, people often use simplified legal vocabulary. "Break the law" means do something illegal, and "press charges" means ask the authorities to start a case. "Plead guilty" and "plead not guilty" are common phrases for court. "Get away with it" means avoid punishment, while "serve time" means spend time in prison.

Word/Phrase	🇨🇳 中文 Word/Phrase	Definition	🇨🇳 中文 Definition	Example	🇨🇳 中文 Example
break the law	🗣️ break the law	do something illegal	do something illegal	You can be arrested if you break the law.	🗣️ You can be arrested if you break the law.
press charges	🗣️ press charges	formally request prosecution	formally request prosecution	The victim decided to press charges.	🗣️ The victim decided to press charges.
plead guilty	🗣️ plead guilty	say you are guilty in court	say you are guilty in court	He pleaded guilty to the charge.	🗣️ He pleaded guilty to the charge.
plead not guilty	🗣️ plead not guilty	say you are not guilty in court	say you are not guilty in court	She pleaded not guilty.	🗣️ She pleaded not guilty.
get away with it	🗣️ get away with it	avoid punishment	avoid punishment	He thought he could get away with it.	🗣️ He thought he could get away with it.
serve time	🗣️ serve time	spend time in prison	spend time in prison	He served time for fraud.	🗣️ He served time for fraud.