兩個單詞均有無視后果而對他人造成傷害的含義。區(qū)別在于在刑法中，wanton經(jīng)常有故意或惡意（malice) 的含義，指完全不計后果的無理和有預(yù)謀的傷害行為（unreasonably of maliciously risking harm while being utterly indifferent to the consequence [1])，故其應(yīng)譯為“放任（縱）的”。相比之下，盡管 reckless遠(yuǎn)不是一種過失，且其嚴(yán)重有悖于理性之人的正常行為，但其主要指鹵莽和無視后果，而無惡意（malice)，與wanton相比，一個reckless person有有意避讓傷害的企圖，而wanton person則完全無避讓傷害的嘗試，故reckless責(zé)任較wanton 輕[2]，其應(yīng)譯為“莽撞的”或“不顧危險后果的”。同理，與它們相對應(yīng)的名詞wantonness (放任性行為，放縱性行為）和 recklessness (莽撞行為，不顧危險后果的行為）在刑法上也有類似的區(qū)別。

[1] Cf. Bryan A. Gamer, Black's Law Dictionary, 7th edition, at p. 378，West Group (1999).

[2]“Characterized by the creation of a substantial and unjustifiable risk to the lives, safety, o rights of others. ”Cf. Linda Pacard Wood, Merriam Webster's Dictionary of Law，at p, 409，Merriam-Webster, Incorporated (1996). "A reckless person is generally fully ware of the risk and may even be trying and hoping to avoid harm. A wanton person may be risking no more harm than the reckless person, but he or she is not trying to avoid the harm and is indifferent about whether it results. ”Cf. Bryan A. Gamer, A Dictionary of Modem Legal Usage, Second Edition, at p. 924 (1995).

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