pou2 tung1 faat3普通法
Jyutpingpou2 tung1 faat3
Yalepóu tūng faat
Definition
Common law; the legal system originating in England where courts are bound by judicial precedent.
neutralother
How it's used
Refers specifically to the legal tradition inherited from the British colonial era. It is frequently contrasted with 大陸法 in academic or professional discussions about the local judicial system. When discussing court rulings, it is common to hear people mention that judges rely on 案例 to guide their decisions.
Examples
Hong Kong has always been operating under common law.
Do you know how common law treats precedents?
Related words
Common phrases
common law system
common law principles
Common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse this with the Mandarin term 普通話, which refers to the standard spoken language. Ensure the final character 法 is pronounced clearly to avoid this misunderstanding.
Grammar color guide
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Adjective
Adverb
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Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
