declaration against interest

英 /ˌdɛkləˈreɪʃən əˈɡɛnst ˈɪntrəst/美 /ˌdɛkləˈreɪʃən əˈɡɛnst ˈɪntrəst/

n. 名词短语

违反自身利益的陈述;对己不利的声明;法律上指当事人作出的不利己的陈述,可作为证据采纳

用法示例

  1. The court admitted his statement as a declaration against interest because it acknowledged his debt.法庭将其陈述作为对己不利的声明予以采纳,因为它承认了他的债务。
  2. Under the Federal Rules of Evidence, a declaration against interest is an exception to the hearsay rule.根据《联邦证据规则》,对己不利的声明是传闻证据规则的一个例外。
  3. Her confession to the police was a classic declaration against interest.她向警方的供认是典型的对己不利的声明。
  4. In his memoir, the politician made a declaration against interest by admitting his policy failure.在回忆录中,这位政客承认了自己的政策失误,作出了对己不利的表态。
  5. The lawyer argued that the statement was not a declaration against interest because it was made to a friend, not under oath.律师辩称该陈述不是对己不利的声明,因为它是向朋友作出的,而非在宣誓下。

含义详解

本义指某人公开或正式地说出对自己不利的话,例如承认犯罪或承认欠债。在法律语境中,它特指诉讼一方或证人作出的、违背自身利益(如经济利益、刑事免责)的陈述,这种陈述因违背人之常情(人通常不会说对自己不利的假话)而被认为可信度高,可作为传闻证据的例外被采纳。引申义可泛指任何在非法律场合中承认自己弱点、错误或不利事实的表态,如政治人物承认政策失误。各义项均围绕“违背自身利益”这一核心,从法律专业术语扩展到日常比喻用法。

词源解析

declaration 源自拉丁语 declaratio(澄清、声明),词根 declarare(使清楚),由 de-(完全)和 clarare(使明亮)构成,与 clear 同源。against 源自古英语 ongean(相反),interest 源自拉丁语 interesse(涉及、有利害关系),由 inter-(之间)和 esse(存在)构成。整个短语的字面意思是“针对自身利益的声明”。记忆时可拆解为:declaration(声明)+ against(反对)+ interest(利益),即“声明反对自己的利益”,从而联想为“对己不利的陈述”。

适用语境

该短语主要出现在法律文本中,如法庭证词、证据规则、判例法,语气正式严谨。在学术写作(尤其是法学论文)中,它作为专业术语出现,指代传闻证据的例外。新闻报道中可能引用该词描述案件进展,如“the court admitted his declaration against interest”。日常口语中极少使用,若用则带有夸张或戏谑色彩,如“That's a declaration against interest”表示某人承认了对自己不利的事。商务邮件中几乎不用,除非涉及法律纠纷。文学作品中也罕见,但可能在侦探小说或法庭剧的对话中出现,以塑造法律背景。

用法须知

该短语为名词短语,通常作主语或宾语,可数。常见句型:make a declaration against interest(作出对己不利的声明);be admissible as a declaration against interest(可作为对己不利的声明被采纳)。注意介词固定为 against,不能用 to 或 for。易错点:误写为 declaration against interests(复数),但法律上通常用单数 interest 表示抽象利益。此外,该短语常与 hearsay exception(传闻证据例外)连用,如“the declaration against interest exception”。作为专业术语,它一般不用于进行时或被动语态中作动词。

相似词辨析

与 admission(承认)相比,declaration against interest 更强调陈述的“不利性”和法律证据资格,而 admission 泛指任何承认,不一定违背自身利益。confession(供认)特指承认犯罪,范围较窄。self-incrimination(自证其罪)强调导致刑事责任的陈述,而 declaration against interest 可包括民事或经济上的不利。statement against interest 有时作为同义词,但更口语化。在非法律语境中,admission of fault 或 owning up 更自然。选择时,若强调法律证据规则,用 declaration against interest;若泛指承认错误,用 admission。

常见误区

该短语属于法律专业术语,语域正式,日常交流中应避免使用,否则显得生硬或做作。在非法律文本中,可改用“a statement that goes against one's own interest”或“an admission of fault”。注意其褒贬色彩中性,仅描述事实,不暗示陈述者诚实或愚蠢。常见误用:将其与“confession”混用,后者仅用于刑事犯罪;或误以为任何不利陈述都可采纳,实际上需满足特定证据规则(如陈述者无法出庭)。在翻译时,不宜直译为“反对利益的声明”,而应采用法律惯用译法“对己不利的陈述”。

常见搭配

  • make a declaration against interest
  • admissible as a declaration against interest
  • the declaration against interest exception
  • hearsay exception for declarations against interest
  • a classic declaration against interest
  • statements constituting declarations against interest