5 · 40 words

Law and justice

Courts and trials, lawsuits and verdicts, crimes and rights.

Legal Chinese builds most of its words from a few characters: 法(fǎ) law, 诉(sù) to bring a complaint, 判(pàn) to judge, 罪(zuì) crime or guilt. The person who brings a case is the 原告(yuángào) and the person it is brought against the 被告(bèigào), and 起诉(qǐsù) covers both a private lawsuit and a prosecution by the state. All of these are formal; in conversation people simply say 打(dǎ)官司(guānsi), to go to law.

The words

Verb (12)

起诉(qǐsù)to sue; to prosecuteVerb5

她(tā)决定(juédìng)起诉(qǐsù)那(nà)家(jiā)装修(zhuāngxiū)公司(gōngsī)。She has decided to sue the renovation company.

辩护(biànhù)to defend (in court); defenceVerb5

律师(lǜshī)在(zài)法庭(fǎtíng)上(shàng)为(wèi)他(tā)辩护(biànhù)。The lawyer defended him in court.

维权(wéiquán)to stand up for one's rightsVerb5

买到(mǎidào)假货(jiǎhuò)的(de)顾客(gùkè)可以(kěyǐ)依法(yīfǎ)维权(wéiquán)。Customers who have bought counterfeit goods can defend their rights through the law.

Short for 维护(wéihù)权利(quánlì), to defend one's rights.

执法(zhífǎ)to enforce the law; law enforcementVerb5

执法(zhífǎ)人员(rényuán)检查(jiǎnchá)了(le)这(zhè)家(jiā)饭馆(fànguǎn)的(de)厨房(chúfáng)。Law enforcement officers inspected the restaurant's kitchen.

判刑(pànxíng)to sentence (to a punishment)Verb5

他(tā)因为(yīnwèi)酒后(jiǔhòu)开车(kāichē)被(bèi)判刑(pànxíng)了(le)。He was sentenced for drink-driving.

逮捕(dàibǔ)to arrestVerb5

警方(jǐngfāng)昨天(zuótiān)逮捕(dàibǔ)了(le)两(liǎng)名(míng)嫌疑人(xiányírén)。The police arrested two suspects yesterday.

拘留(jūliú)to detain; to hold in custodyVerb5

他(tā)因为(yīnwèi)打架(dǎjià)被(bèi)拘留(jūliú)了(le)五(wǔ)天(tiān)。He was held in custody for five days for fighting.

作证(zuòzhèng)to testify; to give evidenceVerb5

她(tā)同意(tóngyì)出庭(chūtíng)作证(zuòzhèng)。She agreed to give evidence in court.

上诉(shàngsù)to appeal (to a higher court)Verb5

被告(bèigào)对(duì)判决(pànjué)不(bù)满(mǎn)，决定(juédìng)上诉(shàngsù)。The defendant was unhappy with the verdict and decided to appeal.

赔偿(péicháng)to compensate; compensationVerb4

他(tā)的(de)行李(xíngli)丢(diū)了(le)，航空(hángkōng)公司(gōngsī)赔偿(péicháng)了(le)他(tā)一(yì)千(qiān)块(kuài)钱(qián)。His luggage was lost, and the airline paid him a thousand yuan in compensation.

调解(tiáojiě)to mediate; mediationVerb5

居委会(jūwěihuì)帮(bāng)两(liǎng)家(jiā)邻居(línjū)调解(tiáojiě)了(le)矛盾(máodùn)。The residents' committee helped two neighbouring families settle their quarrel.

调(tiáo) reads tiáo here, not diào.

侵权(qīnquán)to infringe (a right); infringementVerb5

没有(méiyǒu)得到(dédào)同意(tóngyì)就(jiù)转载(zhuǎnzǎi)别人(biérén)的(de)文章(wénzhāng)属于(shǔyú)侵权(qīnquán)。Republishing someone else's article without permission is an infringement.

This list belongs to The state, the law and public services — eight lists and 320 words that can also be practised as a whole.

Practise this list

Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 40 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.