law
/lɔː/ (bre, ipa) · [lˈɔ] /lɔː/ (ame, ipa) · [lˈɔ] /ˈlȯ/ (ame, mw)
law — 名詞
- lawsingular
- lawsplural
1. an official rule that a government or other authority sets and people must obey.
法律
政府制定的正式規則
an official rule that a government or other authority sets and people must obey.
Taiwan passed a new law to fine drivers who block ambulance lanes.
台灣通過新法律，對堵住救護車道的駕駛開罰。
pass a law
After the factory fire, city leaders wrote a new law requiring safer exits.
工廠失火後，市府制定新法律，要求更安全的出口。
law requiring + noun
Mark broke the law by selling fake concert tickets outside the stadium.
Mark 因在體育場外賣假演唱會票而違反法律。
Our teacher explained why the noise law ends street music at midnight.
老師解釋為什麼那條噪音法律規定街頭音樂到午夜就得結束。
- statute
a formal law, especially in legal writing
- act
often names a law passed by a legislature
- regulation
usually a more detailed rule made under a law
- lawlessness
a state where official rules are not respected
文法句型
pass a law
break the law
follow the law
用法筆記
Use this sense for a specific official rule. Distinguish it from sense 2, which refers to the whole legal system or a field of rules rather than one rule by itself.
常見錯誤
2. the whole set of courts, rights, and rules that a country or group uses to decid
法規
某國或領域的法律體系
the whole set of courts, rights, and rules that a country or group uses to decide what is legal.
Under Japanese law, renters must get their deposit back after the lease.
依日本法規，租客在租約結束後必須拿回押金。
under + country + law
The company changed its website to comply with European privacy law.
公司修改網站，以符合歐洲的隱私法規。
field-specific law
In family law, grandparents can ask the court for visiting rights.
依家事法規，祖父母可以向法院申請探視權。
The judge said the contract was valid in law, not just in custom.
法官說，這份合約依照法規是有效的，不只是合乎習慣。
- legal system
a fuller and more explicit phrase
- jurisdiction
focuses more on legal authority or scope than on rules themselves
文法句型
under the law
in law
privacy law
用法筆記
This sense names a whole legal framework or a branch within it. Unlike sense 1, it is not one separate rule that can be passed or repealed.
3. the university subject and professional work concerned with becoming or being a
法學
法律的學科與職業
the university subject and professional work concerned with becoming or being a lawyer.
Ada chose law because she wanted to defend migrant workers in court.
Ada 選讀法學，因為她想在法庭上替移工辯護。
choose law as a subject
Christopher practices law from a small office near the harbor.
Christopher 在港邊一間小辦公室裡執業，從事法律工作。
practice law
The lecture hall was full of first-year law students before class.
上課前，講堂裡坐滿了法學院一年級學生。
Rin left banking and went back to law at thirty-two.
Rin 離開金融業後，在三十二歲時回頭讀法學。
- legal profession
focuses on working as a lawyer rather than studying
- legal studies
focuses more on the academic subject
文法句型
study law
practice law
law student
用法筆記
Common with study, school, student, and practice. Distinguish it from sense 2, which is about legal rules themselves rather than the subject or profession.
4. the police and similar officers seen as the people who catch criminals and keep
警方
警察與執法單位
the police and similar officers seen as the people who catch criminals and keep order.
The smugglers ran when the law arrived at the warehouse gate.
走私客一看到警方來到倉庫門口就跑了。
the law meaning the police
Everyone in the bar knew the law was asking about the stolen watches.
酒吧裡的人都知道警方正在查那批失竊手錶。
By dawn, the law had sealed off both ends of the alley.
天亮前，警方已經封住那條巷子的兩端。
The gang kept moving camp to stay ahead of the law.
那個幫派不停換營地，想一直躲開警方。
- police
the everyday neutral word
- law enforcement
broader and more formal than this sense
- criminals
the people the police are trying to catch
文法句型
the law arrived
ahead of the law
用法筆記
This is an informal way to refer to police or law-enforcement officers, especially in stories about crime. It does not normally mean judges, lawyers, or written rules.
5. the use of legal proceedings to have judges decide a dispute or provide a remedy
訴訟
透過法院解決爭議
the use of legal proceedings to have judges decide a dispute or provide a remedy.
After the builder vanished, Salma went to law over the missing deposit.
建商失蹤後，Salma 為了失去的訂金提起訴訟。
go to law
The farmers stayed out of law and asked a village elder to mediate.
那些農夫沒有走上訴訟，而是請村裡長者調解。
stay out of law
Two brothers were at law for years over their father's land.
兩兄弟為了父親留下的土地打了多年訴訟。
The singer turned to law after the magazine printed a false story.
那位歌手在雜誌刊出不實報導後決定提起訴訟。
- legal action
the modern everyday phrase for this idea
- litigation
more formal and common in legal writing
- settlement
a solution reached without continuing in court
文法句型
go to law
be at law
stay out of law
用法筆記
Mostly appears in set phrases such as go to law and be at law. Modern everyday English often uses lawsuit or legal action instead.
6. a statement explaining a pattern that nature always follows in the same situatio
定律
科學或自然的固定規律
a statement explaining a pattern that nature always follows in the same situation.
The law of gravity pulls the dropped spoon straight to the floor.
重力定律會把掉下的湯匙直接拉向地板。
law of + natural force
Students tested whether the gas law still worked inside the heated box.
學生測試那條氣體定律在加熱箱裡是否仍然成立。
gas law
A good engineer respects every law of motion when building a safe lift.
優秀的工程師在建安全電梯時會尊重每條運動定律。
The chart explains the law behind tides with moon and ocean examples.
那張圖用月亮與海洋的例子說明潮汐背後的定律。
文法句型
law of gravity
law of motion
gas law
用法筆記
Use this sense for a regular pattern in science or nature. Distinguish it from sense 1, which is about human rules made or enforced by authorities.
常見錯誤
7. a behavior rule that people feel they should follow, even without official punis
規矩
大家默認要遵守的準則
a behavior rule that people feel they should follow, even without official punishment.
In that village, hospitality is a law, so no guest eats alone.
在那個村子裡，好客是一條規矩，所以沒有客人會獨自吃飯。
law as an expected social rule
At the temple, silence was treated as a law by every visitor.
在寺廟裡，安靜被每位訪客當成一條規矩。
Among the crew, sharing water became an unwritten law on hot trips.
在那群船員之間，共享飲水成了炎熱旅程中的不成文規矩。
For Aunt Mei, thanking the cook was a law of good manners.
對 Aunt Mei 來說，向廚師道謝是一條餐桌規矩。
文法句型
a law of good manners
treat something as a law
用法筆記
This figurative sense describes a custom people feel strongly about. Unlike sense 1, nobody officially passes or enforces it through government.
law — 動詞
- lawpresent simple I / you / we / they
- laws3rd person singular
- lawing-ing form
- lawedpast simple
1. to take someone to court over a dispute; to sue them.
提告
對某人提出法律訴訟
to take someone to court over a dispute; to sue them.
After the spill, the fishermen lawed the shipping company for lost income.
漏油事件後，漁民提告那家航運公司，要求賠償收入損失。
law + someone
Two ranchers lawed each other over water rights during the dry summer.
兩位牧場主人在乾旱的夏天為水權互相提告。
law over + dispute
The actor lawed the tabloid after it printed stolen medical records.
那位演員在小報刊出偷來的病歷後提告。
When the supplier disappeared, the cafe owner lawed him for the unpaid refund.
供應商失蹤後，那位咖啡店老闆為了未退的款項提告他。
- settle
resolve a dispute without pursuing the case in court
文法句型
law + someone
law over + dispute
用法筆記
Very uncommon in modern English. Most learners will see sue instead, so treat this sense as a marked legal or historical wording.