obliged

obliged — 形容詞

1. feeling that you have to do something because duty, gratitude, or the situation

1.形容詞C1
釋義

不得不

因責任或情勢而非做不可

feeling that you have to do something because duty, gratitude, or the situation makes refusal seem wrong or impossible.

例句

After Roya covered her shift, Elena felt obliged to bring dinner the next night.

Roya 幫她代班後，Elena 覺得自己有義務隔天帶晚餐去。

feel obliged to do something after receiving help

Daichi was obliged to stay late because the last train had stopped running.

末班車停開後，Daichi 不得不留到很晚。

be obliged to do something because circumstances leave no choice

同義詞
  • bound

    more formal and stronger; often suggests moral duty

  • duty-bound

    emphasizes obligation based on conscience or role

  • compelled

    stronger; often suggests outside pressure rather than inner duty

反義詞
  • free

    not required to do the action

  • unwilling

    describes not wanting to do something at all

文法句型

feel obliged to do something

be obliged to do something

用法筆記

Usually appears after 'be' or 'feel'. Distinguish from verb sense 1: the adjective focuses on the person's feeling of duty or necessity, while the verb names the force, law, or event that creates that pressure.

常見錯誤

❌I felt obliged helping him move house.
✅I felt obliged to help him move house.
💡this adjective takes 'to' + base verb, not '-ing'.
❌She was obliged for call her aunt.
✅She was obliged to call her aunt.
💡use 'to' before the verb in this duty meaning.

2. grateful to someone for kindness or help they have given you.

2.形容詞C1
釋義

感激；感謝

因受幫助而心懷謝意

grateful to someone for kindness or help they have given you.

例句

Much obliged, officer; you saved us a long walk in the rain.

太感謝了，警官；你讓我們不用在雨裡走很遠。

fixed phrase: much obliged

Evelyn was deeply obliged to the nurse who stayed after midnight.

Evelyn 很感激那位陪到午夜後的護理師。

be obliged to somebody for help received

同義詞
  • grateful

    more neutral and much more common in modern English

  • thankful

    warmer and slightly more personal

  • indebted

    more formal; stresses owing someone thanks

反義詞

文法句型

be obliged to somebody for something

much obliged

用法筆記

This sense is mostly found in polite, slightly old-fashioned speech and writing. Unlike sense 1, it expresses thanks rather than duty, and unlike sense 3, it comes after help has already been given.

常見錯誤

❌I am obliged that you helped me.
✅I am obliged to you for helping me.
💡this gratitude pattern uses 'to' + person and often 'for' + thing.
❌Much oblige for the advice.
✅Much obliged for the advice.
💡the fixed expression uses the past-participle form 'obliged'.

3. used in formal requests to show respectful politeness, especially before asking

3.形容詞C2
釋義

煩請；勞駕

用於正式客氣地請人幫忙

used in formal requests to show respectful politeness, especially before asking for help.

例句

I would be obliged if you could email the receipt before noon.

煩請你在中午前把收據寄來。

formula: I would be obliged if ...

My aunt would be obliged if the driver waited by the side gate.

若司機能在側門等候，我阿姨將十分感激。

同義詞

文法句型

I would be obliged if ...

be obliged for + noun

用法筆記

Most common in letters, official email, and careful spoken requests. It is usually first person ('I would be obliged', 'we would be obliged') and often softens a request that might otherwise sound direct.

常見錯誤

❌I would be obliged you send the receipt today.
✅I would be obliged if you sent the receipt today.
💡add 'if' before the clause.
❌We would be obliged for you reply soon.
✅We would be obliged for a quick reply soon.
💡after 'for', use a noun phrase, not a full clause.

obliged — 動詞