vocation

/vəʊˈkeɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /vəʊˈkeɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /vō-ˈkā-shən/ (ame, mw)

vocation — 名詞

  • vocationsingular
  • vocationsplural

1. A job or area of work that feels naturally right for you — one you are willing t

1.名詞B2
釋義

天職；使命

最適合自己的職業

A job or area of work that feels naturally right for you — one you are willing to give great effort to because it matters deeply to you.

例句

Teaching was not just a job for Élise — it was her true vocation.

對 Élise 來說，教書不只是一份工作——更是她的天職。

collocation: true vocation

After years in business, Sayaka finally found her vocation as a children's doctor.

在商界打拼多年後，Sayaka 終於發現兒童醫生是她的天職。

find + one's + vocation + as + [role]

同義詞
  • calling

    More strongly associated with a sense of destiny or divine purpose; less common in everyday speech

  • mission

    Emphasises a sense of life purpose or social contribution; can sound more ambitious

  • profession

    Focuses on training and formal qualifications; lacks the emotional commitment of vocation

反義詞
  • hobby

    A hobby is done for enjoyment in free time, not as serious work

  • pastime

    A pastime fills leisure hours, demanding little commitment

文法句型

find + one's + vocation

have + a + vocation + for + [work/role]

sense + of + vocation

用法筆記

Unlike job or career, vocation emphasises a strong personal feeling that the work is the right fit for you. Commonly used in phrases such as find one's vocation and sense of vocation.

常見錯誤

❌I got a new vocation as a shop assistant last week.
✅I started a new job as a shop assistant last week.
💡Vocation describes work you feel deeply suited to over a long period, not any temporary job.
❌His vocation as an accountant paid the bills.
✅His job as an accountant paid the bills.
💡Use job for neutral, everyday work; use vocation only when the work feels personally meaningful.

2. A strong inner feeling, often based on religious belief, that you are called by

2.名詞B2
釋義

聖召；神召

成為神職人員的召喚

A strong inner feeling, often based on religious belief, that you are called by God to serve in a religious role such as a priest, monk, or nun.

例句

At age thirty, Salma felt a vocation to become a Buddhist nun in Thailand.

Salma 在三十歲時感受到聖召，前往泰國成為佛教尼師。

collocation: vocation to become + [religious role]

The bishop recognised Christopher's sincere vocation to the priesthood during the retreat.

主教在退省期間看出 Christopher 對司鐸職務有真誠的聖召。

同義詞
  • calling

    More common in everyday use; can be religious or non-religious

  • divine calling

    Explicitly states the source is God; more formal and solemn

文法句型

have + a + vocation + to + [religious role/group]

feel + a + vocation

用法筆記

This sense is most common in religious contexts. In everyday conversation, sense 1 (SUITABLE WORK) is much more frequent. Distinguish from sense 1: a RELIGIOUS CALLING specifically relates to serving God or a faith community.

常見錯誤

❌She felt a vocation to become a lawyer.
✅She felt a calling to become a lawyer.
💡Vocation used for religious roles; calling is more acceptable for non-religious purposes.
❌He had a vocation for engineering.' (when meaning a religious calling)
✅He had a vocation to the priesthood.
💡Religious vocation typically takes to, not for.

3. The job that a person does to earn a living, especially one that requires specia

3.名詞B1
釋義

職業；行業

需受訓的專門工作

The job that a person does to earn a living, especially one that requires special training or skills.

例句

Tanvi pursued a vocation in engineering after graduating from the technical university.

Tanvi 從科技大學畢業後投入了工程行業。

pursue + a + vocation + in + [field]

The survey asked each worker to state their current vocation and years of experience.

這份問卷要求每位工作者說明目前的職業及年資。

同義詞
  • occupation

    More neutral and bureaucratic; the most common word for a person's job on forms

  • profession

    Implies formal training, education, and a recognised status such as doctor or lawyer

  • career

    Emphasises progression over time rather than a single job

反義詞
  • hobby

    A hobby is unpaid and done for enjoyment in free time

  • unemployment

    The state of having no job at all

文法句型

pursue + a + vocation + in + [field]

choose + a + vocation

state + one's + vocation

用法筆記

The most neutral of the three senses. While it overlaps with job or occupation, vocation often appears in formal written contexts such as surveys, legal documents, or career descriptions.

常見錯誤

❌Playing video games is my vocation.
✅Playing video games is my hobby.
💡Vocation implies paid or serious work, not leisure.
❌Her vocation as a cashier lasted two months.
✅Her job as a cashier lasted two months.
💡Vocation (sense 3) is formal and usually describes a career or trained role, not a short-term position.