obligation

/ˌɒblɪˈɡeɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌɑːblɪˈɡeɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌä-blə-ˈgā-shən/ (ame, mw)

obligation — noun

  • obligationsingular
  • obligationsplural

1. the condition of being required to act in a certain way, whether by law, by a pr

1.名詞B2
釋義

the condition of being required to act in a certain way, whether by law, by a promise, or by a moral or social rule.

例句

Maya signed the lease and is now under a legal obligation to pay rent monthly.

under a legal obligation to do something

Parents have a moral obligation to keep their children safe from harm.

moral / legal / contractual obligation

同義詞
  • duty

    more general; covers what one ought to do morally or by role, not just what one is bound to do.

  • responsibility

    wider scope; includes ongoing care, not only specific bound actions.

  • commitment

    stresses a personal pledge one has chosen, rather than an external rule.

反義詞
  • choice

    the absence of being bound; doing something freely.

  • option

    something one may do but is not required to.

文法句型

under (an/no) obligation to do something

have an/the obligation to do something

用法筆記

Often used after 'under' (under an obligation, under no obligation). Distinguish from sense 2: sense 1 names the state or pressure of being bound, while sense 2 names the specific task itself.

常見錯誤

❌I have obligation to help my parents.
✅I have an obligation to help my parents.
💡countable in this sense; use 'an' or 'the'.
❌She is under obligation for finishing the report.
✅She is under an obligation to finish the report.
💡use 'to' + base verb after 'obligation', not 'for' + -ing.

2. a particular task or duty you have to carry out because of a promise, a contract

2.名詞B2
釋義

a particular task or duty you have to carry out because of a promise, a contract, a law, or your role in a family or job.

例句

Lina balances her work obligations with caring for her elderly mother.

work / family obligations (plural)

The bank failed to meet its obligations to small business customers last year.

meet an obligation (to someone)

同義詞
  • duty

    everyday word for a specific task one ought to do; often less formal than obligation.

  • responsibility

    ongoing area one must look after, not always a single task.

  • commitment

    a task one has personally agreed to take on.

反義詞
  • privilege

    something one is allowed but not required to do.

文法句型

meet / fulfill an obligation

have obligations to someone

用法筆記

Frequently appears in the plural ('obligations') when listing several duties at once. Distinguish from sense 1: pick sense 2 when you can count the duties (one obligation, several obligations); pick sense 1 when describing the abstract state of being bound.

常見錯誤

❌He completed all his obligation last week.
✅He completed all his obligations last week.
💡when listing several duties, use the plural.
❌She fulfilled the obligation for her boss.
✅She fulfilled her obligation to her boss.
💡use 'to' + person, not 'for' + person.