duty

/ˈdjuːti/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈduːti/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈdü-tē also ˈdyü-/ (ame, mw)

duty — noun

  • dutysingular
  • dutiesplural

1. the tasks and activities that you are expected to do as part of a particular job

1.名詞B1
釋義

the tasks and activities that you are expected to do as part of a particular job, role, or position, either because they are required by your employer or because they naturally belong to that role.

例句

One of Hari's duties as store manager includes checking inventory every morning.

possessive + duty + as + role

The nurse's main duty is to monitor patients and report any changes to the doctor.

duty + to-infinitive describing core task

同義詞
  • task

    more concrete and specific; a task is one single piece of work, while duty covers ongoing responsibility

  • responsibility

    broader; can refer to a duty that you choose or accept, not just one assigned to you

  • role

    focuses on the function or part you play, not the specific actions required

反義詞
  • choice

    something you do because you want to, not because you are expected to

文法句型

duty + to-infinitive

duty + of + noun

possessive + duty

用法筆記

Commonly paired with main, primary, or official to single out the most important task. The phrase 'it is your duty to…' can sound formal in everyday workplace conversation.

常見錯誤

❌I have many duties to do my boss.
✅I have many duties for my boss.' / 'I have many duties to carry out for my boss.
💡'duty' takes 'to' only before a verb (to-infinitive), not before a person.
❌This is duty of everyone.
✅This is everyone's duty.' / 'This is the duty of everyone.
💡'duty' needs a determiner (a/the/my) or a possessive in most contexts.

2. a deep personal sense that you ought to act a certain way from moral conviction,

2.名詞B1
釋義

a deep personal sense that you ought to act a certain way from moral conviction, even without being told — for instance, shielding a younger sibling from harm or sharing an honest opinion when it might upset someone.

例句

Élise felt it was her duty to stay with the injured hiker until help arrived.

it was [possessive] duty to-infinitive

Most people believe that a strong sense of duty keeps a community honest and safe.

同義詞
  • obligation

    more neutral and often legal; duty feels more personal and moral

  • responsibility

    broader; can refer to something you are in charge of, not necessarily a moral call

  • conscience

    the inner voice of right and wrong that gives rise to a sense of duty

反義詞
  • neglect

    the failure to do what duty requires

文法句型

duty + to-infinitive

duty + of + verb-ing

sense of duty

it is [possessive] duty to…

用法筆記

Often uncountable in phrases like 'out of duty' or 'a sense of duty'. This sense differs from sense 1 (JOB RESPONSIBILITIES) because it is driven by personal conscience, not by a job description.

常見錯誤

❌I have duty to help.
✅I have a duty to help.' / 'It is my duty to help.
💡'duty' in this sense is usually countable and needs an article.
❌He did it for duty feelings.
✅He did it out of a sense of duty.
💡the standard phrase is 'sense of duty' or 'out of duty.'

3. a government charge you are required to pay when bringing goods into a country f

3.名詞B2
釋義

a government charge you are required to pay when bringing goods into a country from abroad, or sometimes when buying particular goods such as alcohol or fuel inside the country.

例句

Marta had to pay a high duty on the electronic equipment she brought back from Japan.

duty on + goods

The duty on imported cheese is much lower now than it was ten years ago.

同義詞
  • tax

    broader; includes all types of government levies, not just on imports

  • tariff

    specifically a tax on trade between countries, often a policy tool

  • levy

    formal term for any imposed tax or fee

反義詞

文法句型

duty on + goods

duty-free

用法筆記

Often uncountable when referring to the tax system in general ('duty on alcohol'), but countable when referring to a specific payment ('a 15% duty'). The compound adjective 'duty-free' refers to shops or products sold without this tax.

常見錯誤

❌I paid duty for the wine.
✅I paid duty on the wine.
💡the preposition after 'duty' in this sense is 'on,' not 'for.'
❌The custom duty was very high.
✅The customs duty was very high.
💡use the plural 'customs' (as in 'customs office').

4. the proper care, respect, or loyalty that you should show toward someone because

4.名詞B2
釋義

the proper care, respect, or loyalty that you should show toward someone because of your relationship with them — for example, a doctor's duty to keep patient information private, or a child's duty to look after aging parents.

例句

A lawyer owes a duty of confidentiality to every client she represents.

duty of + [specific obligation]

Eshe felt a strong duty toward her grandmother, who had raised her since childhood.

duty toward [someone]

同義詞
  • obligation

    more neutral; can be legal or social without the personal relationship element

  • allegiance

    stronger, implies loyalty to a country or leader rather than care for an individual

  • deference

    focuses on respectful yielding to another's wishes, not active care

反義詞
  • betrayal

    the act of breaking the trust or loyalty that duty requires

文法句型

[possessive] duty to [someone]

duty of + care/respect/loyalty

用法筆記

Most common in formal and legal contexts with phrases like 'duty of care,' 'duty of loyalty,' or 'fiduciary duty.' This sense differs from sense 2 (MORAL OBLIGATION) because it is grounded in a specific relationship or legal framework rather than general conscience.

常見錯誤

❌The manager has a duty for his staff.
✅The manager has a duty toward his staff.' / 'The manager has a duty to his staff.
💡use 'to' or 'toward,' not 'for,' when stating who the duty is owed to.
❌He did his duty of as a father.
✅He did his duty as a father.
💡drop 'of' before 'as.'

duty — adjective