Translation guide
Refers to the body of law dealing with private relations between members of a community, as distinct from criminal, military, or religious law. In Japanese, the term depends on whether you mean the general legal system (as opposed to common law) or the specific field of private law.
The legal system originating in continental Europe, based on codified statutes, as opposed to common law systems.
Literally 'continental law'. The standard term for the civil law legal system, used in comparative law contexts.
日本は大陸法の国です。
Japan is a civil law country.
Loanword from English, used in academic or international contexts.
シビル・ローとコモン・ローの違いを説明してください。
Please explain the difference between civil law and common law.
The area of law governing private rights and remedies, as opposed to criminal law.
The standard term for civil law as a field of private law. Also refers to the Civil Code.
彼は民法の専門家です。
He is an expert in civil law.
民法と刑法の違いは何ですか。
What is the difference between civil law and criminal law?
A broader term encompassing civil law and related procedural law. Often used in academic or systematic classifications.
民事法の講義を受けています。
I'm taking a course on civil law.
Referring to the academic study or a class on civil law.
Natural way to say 'civil law class'.
来学期、民法の授業を取るつもりです。
I plan to take a civil law class next semester.
民法 (みんぽう) refers to the substantive field of private law or the Civil Code. 大陸法 (たいりくほう) refers to the civil law legal system as a whole, in contrast to common law. Do not confuse them.
The literal translation 市民法 (しみんほう) is rarely used and may cause confusion. Stick to 民法 or 大陸法 depending on context.