obligation

duty, obligation, responsibility, function

名词 obligation:

1. the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force- John D.Rockefeller Jr
   同义词：duty, responsibility
2. the state of being obligated to do or pay something
3. a personal relation in which one is indebted for a service or favor
   同义词：indebtedness
4. a legal agreement specifying a payment or action and the penalty for failure to comply

1. I have an obligation not to.
   我有义务不这样。
2. Damaging the goods puts you under an obligation to buy them.
   你损坏了这些商品，你就得都买下来。
3. The company has to fulfill the terms of its obligation.
   这个公司必须履行合同条款。

ob.li.ga.tion

n.（名词）
The act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie.
束缚：被社会，法律或道德约束和束缚自己的行为

A social, legal, or moral requirement, such as a duty, contract, or promise that compels one to follow or avoid a particular course of action.
义务，责任：社会、法律或道德要求，如强迫某人服从或避免某些特定行为的义务、合约或诺言
A course of action imposed by society, law, or conscience by which one is bound or restricted.
行为规范：被约束或限制社会、法律或良心强加的行为
The constraining power of a promise, contract, law, or sense of duty.
约束力：承诺、和约、法律或责任感的约束力
Law
【法律】
A legal agreement stipulating a specified payment or action, especially if the agreement also specifies a penalty for failure to comply.
合同契约：规定具体支付款项或行为的法律合约，指具体规定对不能遵守的惩罚的
The document containing the terms of such an agreement.
合同文件：有这种合约条款的文件

Something owed as payment or in return for a special service or favor.
债务：为了特别的帮助或思惠所欠下的应偿还或报答的东西
The service or favor for which one is indebted to another.
恩惠：一个人对另一人感激的帮助或恩惠
The state, fact, or feeling of being indebted to another for a special service or favor received.
受恩惠状态：为了接受的特别帮助或恩惠而感激另一人的状态、事实或感觉

【引伸】
ob.liga.tional
adj.（形容词）
<参考词汇><同义词>obligation,responsibility,dutyThese nouns refer to a course of action that is demanded of a person, as by law or conscience.
这些名词指法律或良心等要求一个人的行为。
Obligation usually applies to a specific constraint arising from a particular cause:
Obligation 通常用于特定原因引起的具体限制：
例句：
.Then in the marriage union,the independence of the husband and wife will be equal, their dependence mutual,and their obligations reciprocal. (Lucretia Mott).
.在一桩婚姻中，丈夫与妻子的独立性是平等的，依赖性是互相的，而他们的责任也是彼此之间的. （卢克丽霞·莫特）。

Responsibility stresses accountability for the fulfillment of an obligation:
Responsibility 强调对履行义务负有责任：
例句：
.I believe that every right implies a responsibility;every opportunity, an obligation;every possession, a duty. (John D. Rockefeller, Jr.).
.我相信每一项权利意味着义务；每一个机会意味着束缚；每一份财产意味着责任. （小约翰·D·洛克菲勒）。

Duty applies especially to constraint deriving from moral or ethical considerations:
Duty 尤指出于道德或伦理的考虑而受到的限制：
例句：
.I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it, to support its Constitution, to obey its laws, to respect its flag, and to defend it against all enemies. (William Tyler Page).
.因此我相信保卫祖国，支持宪法，遵守法律，尊重国旗，反抗敌人是我的责任. （威廉姆·泰勒·佩奇）