上述三术语均指行为人并非预谋损害他人但事实却可能使他人遭受损失的一种违法行为。recklessness是指虽然无故意，但行为人却在可能预见危险的情况下有意不顾他人的安危而冒 险，故其为“莽撞行为”[1]。negligence则是指行为人未行使合理的或应有的注意或小心而给他人造成损害，但其行为常并非 willful 或 desired，故其为“过失”[2]。intentional wrong (也称为 willful wrong)则为“有意过错”[3]。三者相比，negligence情节最轻；recklessness的过错情节虽较negligence严重[4]，但却比 intentional wrongdoing 的过错轻。

[1]“Characterized by the creation of a substantial and unjustifiable risk to the lives, safety, or rights of others and by a conscious and sometimes wanton and willful disregard for or indifference to that risk that is a gross deviation from the standard of care a reasonable person would exercise in like circumstances. " Cf. Linda Picard Wood，J. D. , Merriam Webster's Dictionary of Law, at p. 409, Merriam-Webster, Incorporated, Springfield, Massachusetts (1996).

[2]“An independent tort which consists of breach of a legal duty to take care which results in damage, undesired by the defendant, to the plaintiff.”Cf. John G. Fleming, The Law of Torts, 6th edition, at p. 101，Sydney, The Law Book Co. (1983).

[3]“A wrong in which the mens rea amounts to intention, purpose, or design. ”Cf. Bryan A. Gamer, Black's Law Dictionary, 7th edition, at p. 1606，West Group (1999).

[4]“Sometimes the term recklessness is used as just another word for negligence, but usually it signifies a higher degree of culpability. To be negligence, it is enough that one fail to perceive a risk that a reasonably careful person would have perceived； to be reckless is to be aware of a significant risk to others and proceed anyway. ”Cf. James E. Clapp, Random House Webster's Dictionary of the Law, at p. 363，Random House, New York (2000).