burdens
burdens — noun
- burdenssingular
- burdensesplural
1. something heavy that a person, animal, or vehicle carries, especially over a dis
something heavy that a person, animal, or vehicle carries, especially over a distance and with effort.
The donkey carried a heavy burden of firewood up the winding mountain trail.
burden + of + [what is carried]
Min's backpack was such a burden that she stopped three times on the way to school.
The old wooden bridge collapsed under the burden of the passing concrete truck.
Relief workers loaded the burden of medical supplies onto small fishing boats.
Aarav shifted the burden from his right shoulder to his left and kept walking.
文法句型
burden + of + noun phrase
常見錯誤
2. a duty, problem, or worry that causes you a lot of difficulty or emotional press
a duty, problem, or worry that causes you a lot of difficulty or emotional pressure over a long period of time.
Caring for her elderly mother became a heavy emotional burden for Soraya.
emotional burden + for + [person]
The burden of running a small business often keeps Rafael awake at night.
burden + of + gerund phrase
Hana felt the weight of the burden her family's expectations placed on her choices.
The company's debt was a heavy burden that its new owners could not ignore.
Sharing your burdens with a close friend can make them much easier to bear.
- load
more general; a 'load of work' is neutral, while 'burden' suggests it is excessive or unwelcome
- strain
focuses on the pressure or stress caused, not the responsibility itself
- responsibility
neutral and positive in many contexts; 'burden' always implies the responsibility is unwelcome or hard
- relief
the feeling when a burden is removed
文法句型
burden + of + noun/gerund
burden + on/upon + someone
用法筆記
Frequently used in the plural ('burdens') when referring to multiple worries or responsibilities. Common in both personal and professional contexts.
常見錯誤
3. the core topic or argument that a speaker or writer develops throughout a speech
the core topic or argument that a speaker or writer develops throughout a speech or piece of writing.
The burden of the mayor's speech was that the city must invest in better public transport.
the burden of [speech/article] + was + that-clause
The burden of the novel explores how war tears apart the lives of ordinary families.
Kwame summarised the burden of the journal article in just two clear sentences.
The central burden of Professor Okonkwo's lecture was the urgent need for clean water in rural areas.
Once you grasp the burden of the poem, its structure starts to make perfect sense.
文法句型
the burden of + noun phrase
the + burden + of + possessive + noun
用法筆記
This is a formal, literary sense. It is most common in academic writing and literary criticism. Distinguish from sense 2 (DIFFICULT RESPONSIBILITY), which is far more frequent in everyday language.
常見錯誤
burdens — verb
- burdenspresent simple I / you / we / they
- burdenses3rd person singular
- burdensing-ing form
- burdensedpast simple
1. to give someone a difficult task, responsibility, or problem that causes them wo
to give someone a difficult task, responsibility, or problem that causes them worry or makes their life harder.
Beatrix did not want to burden her colleagues with details of her personal problems.
burden + someone + with + something
The new government regulations burden small businesses with mountains of extra paperwork.
Iker felt guilty about burdening his parents with the full cost of his university fees.
Min was burdened with the task of organising the entire school festival by herself.
The country's healthcare system is burdened by an ageing population and rising costs.
- weigh down
slightly informal; suggests the pressure is continuous and heavy
- saddle with
informal, often suggests an unfair or unwelcome task was assigned
- overload
means giving too much, not just assigning a burden
文法句型
burden + someone + with + something
be burdened + with + something
用法筆記
Often used in the passive voice ('be burdened with'). The object of the burden is introduced by 'with' (the thing causing the trouble) or 'by' (the agent). Unlike the noun sense, the verb always implies a negative effect.