Infringe, Impinge, Encroach, Trespass, or Invade? (in legal context)

Infringe可及物，也可不及物，但Garner’s Dictionary of LegalUsage (3rd edition)指出infringe is better used transitively，尤其是在被動句中使用及物動詞更合適。比如，the defendant has failed to show either that his rights were infringed or that there was a procedural irregularity.如果是用不及物的形式，一般說infringe on/upon sth，但不如用impinge, encroach or trespass這幾個不及物動詞。

Impinge是不及物動詞！只能說impinge on/upon sth，如they impinged on the voter’s right。Garner還指出，盡管infringe和impinge經(jīng)常互換使用，但應記住這兩個詞的connotation是不一樣的。impinge = to strike or dash upon something else，infringe則是break in (damage, violate, or weaken)。此外，impinge on/upon后面必須要寫清遭侵犯的事物，不能說these policies impinge when we do something。Impinge on what or whom?

Trespass和encroach都是不及物動詞：trespass on sth; encroach on/upon sth。

Invade，及物動詞，如the paparazzi invaded my privacy。

這些詞盡管都有to move wrongfully into someone else’s rightful territory的含義，但在使用時需要考慮上下文選擇合適的詞。

Infringe implies an encroachment that without question violates another’s rights.

Impinge implies a more or less violent collision with something else, and therefore a sudden and striking infringement.

Encroach suggests a gradual and hardly perceptible movement into another domain and an unnoticed extension of one’s possession of land so as to transgress the proper boundary.

Trespass implies an unlawful entrance or unwarranted intrusion.

Invade implies a clear, abrupt penetration into someone else’s rightful domain, usually with hostility and resulting injury.

簡言之，infringe強調(diào)侵犯的“確定無疑性”；impinge是“具有沖擊力的、突然的”侵犯；encroach是“逐漸的、難以察覺的”侵犯行為；trespass強調(diào)非法的“進入、入侵”；invade突出侵犯行為是“不友善的、會造成損害的”。