law that deals with commercial issues and the relationships between individuals, companies, etc., rather than with crime 民法◆The store will seek damages from thieves under civil law. 这商店将根据民法向盗贼追讨赔偿。➡criminal law
a system of law that is used in many countries, especially in Europe, that is based on the law of ancient Rome (Roman law) and uses laws recorded in large written documents (called codes) 大陆法（尤指盛行於欧洲大陆的法律体系。这体系在罗马法的基础上建立，强调成文法的权威性）◆a civil law country/system 大陆法国家／体系➡common law