forethought
/ˈfɔːθɔːt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈfɔːrθɔːt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfȯr-ˌthȯt/ (ame, mw)
forethought — 名詞
1. careful thought about what could happen in the future, done before making a choi
先見；預先規劃
事前考量未來的判斷力
careful thought about what could happen in the future, done before making a choice or taking action so that things go well
With a little forethought, the team could have booked the hotel rooms before the prices went up.
如果多一點先見，團隊原本可以在漲價前訂好飯店房間。
with + forethought, describing missed opportunity
Mei-Lin showed remarkable forethought by saving part of her salary each month for emergencies.
Mei-Lin 展現了卓越的先見之明，每月存下部分薪水以備不時之需。
showed forethought by + -ing clause
The outdoor wedding succeeded thanks to the couple's forethought in checking the weather forecast.
戶外婚禮順利舉行，多虧了這對新人事先查詢天氣預報的先見。
The architect's forethought in designing wider doorways made the building accessible to everyone.
建築師在設計較寬門廊時的遠見，讓這棟建築對所有人都很便利。
A lack of forethought about visa requirements caused problems for the travelers at the border.
由於缺乏對簽證要求的事先考量，這群旅客在邊境遇到了麻煩。
- foresight
emphasises the ability to see what will happen; forethought emphasises the action taken based on that ability
- prudence
stresses caution and sensible management rather than active advance planning
- preparation
more concrete and general; forethought is the mental planning, not the physical act of preparing
- hindsight
understanding of a situation only after it has happened
- carelessness
lack of attention given to possible future outcomes
用法筆記
Often used in negative constructions ('lack of forethought', 'without forethought') to criticise a failure to plan, or positively ('with forethought', 'thanks to forethought') to praise good planning.
常見錯誤
2. the act of arranging the details of a harmful or illegal action before carrying
預謀
事先策劃犯罪或有害行爲
the act of arranging the details of a harmful or illegal action before carrying it out, especially as part of a planned crime
The prosecutor argued that the crime showed clear forethought, not a sudden act of anger.
檢察官主張這起犯罪顯示了明確的預謀，而非一時憤怒的行為。
show + forethought, used in legal argument
Detectives uncovered emails that revealed forethought in the planning of the fraud scheme.
警探發現了電子郵件，顯示出詐騙計畫的策劃早有預謀。
The lawyer claimed her client acted without forethought, on a sudden and overwhelming impulse.
律師主張她的當事人是一時衝動行事，並無預謀。
A murder charge requires proof of forethought, meaning the intention to kill or cause serious injury.
謀殺罪名需要證明有預謀，亦即殺人或造成嚴重傷害的意圖。
The recording revealed forethought in how the suspects planned to cover their tracks.
錄音內容顯示了嫌犯如何預謀銷毀證據。
- premeditation
the exact legal synonym, more common in courtroom language
- deliberation
focuses on careful weighing of options rather than advance planning
- intent
broader term meaning purpose or aim; forethought specifies that the intent was formed in advance
用法筆記
Frequently used in the fixed legal phrase 'malice aforethought', which is the specific mental element required for a murder conviction. Outside this phrase, 'forethought' in this sense is less common and typically appears in formal criminal proceedings.
常見錯誤
forethought — 形容詞
- forethoughtpositive
- more forethoughtcomparative
- most forethoughtsuperlative
1. planned or decided on beforehand — used almost exclusively in the fixed legal ph
預謀的；惡意預謀的
法律用語，事先策劃的意圖
planned or decided on beforehand — used almost exclusively in the fixed legal phrase 'malice aforethought', which means the intention to kill or cause serious harm that makes a killing legally murder rather than manslaughter
The judge explained that malice aforethought does not require ill will toward the victim.
法官解釋，惡意預謀並不要求對受害者懷有惡意。
malice aforethought — does not require + noun clause
To prove murder, the prosecution must show that the defendant acted with malice aforethought.
為證明謀殺成立，檢方必須證明被告的行為出於惡意預謀。
The jury decided that the killing showed malice aforethought and returned a verdict of murder.
陪審團判定這起殺人案顯示了惡意預謀，並作出謀殺罪的裁決。
Without evidence of malice aforethought, the charge was reduced from murder to manslaughter.
由於沒有惡意預謀的證據，起訴罪名從謀殺降為過失殺人。
The concept of malice aforethought has a long history in English common law.
惡意預謀的概念在英國普通法中有著悠久的歷史。
- premeditated
the standard adjective outside legal contexts; 'aforethought' is restricted to the set phrase
- deliberate
broader; can describe any intentional action, not just killing
- calculated
suggests cold, rational planning rather than emotional intent
- unpremeditated
not planned in advance
- accidental
happening by chance, without intention
用法筆記
Never used outside the set phrase 'malice aforethought' in modern English. 'Aforethought' on its own does not occur before nouns (you cannot say 'an aforethought plan'). The entire phrase functions as a legal term of art.