duty, obligation, responsibility, function

名詞 obligation:

1. the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force- John D.Rockefeller Jr
   同義詞：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
   同義詞：indebtedness
4. a legal agreement specifying a payment or action and the penalty for failure to comply

1. I have an obligation not to.
   我有義務(wù)不這樣。
2. Damaging the goods puts you under an obligation to buy them.
   你損壞了這些商品，你就得都買下來。
3. The company has to fulfill the terms of its obligation.
   這個公司必須履行合同條款。

ob.li.ga.tion

n.（名詞）
The act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie.
束縛：被社會，法律或道德約束和束縛自己的行為

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.
義務(wù)，責(zé)任：社會、法律或道德要求，如強(qiáng)迫某人服從或避免某些特定行為的義務(wù)、合約或諾言
A course of action imposed by society, law, or conscience by which one is bound or restricted.
行為規(guī)范：被約束或限制社會、法律或良心強(qiáng)加的行為
The constraining power of a promise, contract, law, or sense of duty.
約束力：承諾、和約、法律或責(zé)任感的約束力
Law
【法律】
A legal agreement stipulating a specified payment or action, especially if the agreement also specifies a penalty for failure to comply.
合同契約：規(guī)定具體支付款項(xiàng)或行為的法律合約，指具體規(guī)定對不能遵守的懲罰的
The document containing the terms of such an agreement.
合同文件：有這種合約條款的文件

Something owed as payment or in return for a special service or favor.
債務(wù)：為了特別的幫助或思惠所欠下的應(yīng)償還或報答的東西
The service or favor for which one is indebted to another.
恩惠：一個人對另一人感激的幫助或恩惠
The state, fact, or feeling of being indebted to another for a special service or favor received.
受恩惠狀態(tài)：為了接受的特別幫助或恩惠而感激另一人的狀態(tài)、事實(shí)或感覺

【引伸】
ob.liga.tional
adj.（形容詞）
<參考詞匯><同義詞>obligation,responsibility,dutyThese nouns refer to a course of action that is demanded of a person, as by law or conscience.
這些名詞指法律或良心等要求一個人的行為。
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體限制：
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).
.在一樁婚姻中，丈夫與妻子的獨(dú)立性是平等的，依賴性是互相的，而他們的責(zé)任也是彼此之間的. （盧克麗霞·莫特）。

Responsibility stresses accountability for the fulfillment of an obligation:
Responsibility 強(qiáng)調(diào)對履行義務(wù)負(fù)有責(zé)任：
例句：
.I believe that every right implies a responsibility;every opportunity, an obligation;every possession, a duty. (John D. Rockefeller, Jr.).
.我相信每一項(xiàng)權(quán)利意味著義務(wù)；每一個機(jī)會意味著束縛；每一份財產(chǎn)意味著責(zé)任. （小約翰·D·洛克菲勒）。

Duty applies especially to constraint deriving from moral or ethical considerations:
Duty 尤指出于道德或倫理的考慮而受到的限制：
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).
.因此我相信保衛(wèi)祖國，支持憲法，遵守法律，尊重國旗，反抗敵人是我的責(zé)任. （威廉姆·泰勒·佩奇）