obligation

IPA/ˌɒblɪˈɡeɪʃn/
KK[ˌɑbləɡˈeʃən]IPA/ˌɑːblɪˈɡeɪʃn/

obligation — 名詞

  • 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

義務；責任

因法律、承諾或道德而必須做的狀態

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.

Maya 簽了租約，現在依法有義務每月繳房租。

under a legal obligation to do something

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

父母有道德上的責任，要保護孩子不受傷害。

moral / legal / contractual obligation

常見搭配
  • under an obligation
  • under no obligation
  • moral obligation
  • legal obligation
  • sense of obligation
  • feel an 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

應盡之事

因承諾或角色而必須完成的具體事務

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.

Lina 一邊應付工作上的事務，一邊照顧年邁的母親。

work / family obligations (plural)

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

去年那家銀行未能履行對小型企業客戶應盡的事項。

meet an obligation (to someone)

常見搭配
  • meet an obligation
  • fulfill an obligation
  • family obligations
  • financial obligations
  • contractual obligations
  • social obligations
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.

同根字

常見搭配

名詞搭配

  • sense of obligation
  • moral obligation
  • legal obligation
  • family obligations
  • financial obligations

副詞搭配

常用片語

  • meet your obligations
  • fulfill an obligation
  • be under no obligation

介系詞搭配

  • under (an) obligation
  • obligation to (someone)
  • obligation toward (someone)