obligation

Compared meaning: a moral duty a person should fulfill (noun).

比较义项：责任、职责（道德上应尽的义务）（名词）。

• obligation 本词

  Emphasizes a moral or personal compulsion someone feels internally, often from conscience, gratitude, or a relationship, rather than a formal job role.

  强调发自内心的道德或情感促使，源于良心、感恩或人际关系，而非正式的工作职责。

  She felt a deep obligation to repay her parents for years of sacrifice.

  她觉得自己有很深的责任要报答父母多年的付出。

• responsibility

  Emphasizes being in charge of and accountable for a task, person, or thing on an ongoing basis; focuses on ownership rather than the moral push behind it.

  强调对某项任务、人或事物持续负责并需承担后果，侧重“归属”和“担当”，而非背后的道德驱动力。

  As team leader, she takes full responsibility for the project's final outcome.

  作为团队负责人，她对项目的最终结果全权负责。

• duty

  Emphasizes a formal expectation tied to one's job, role, or moral code, often a specific required act; more formal and serious in register than the other two.

  强调因身份、职位或道德准则而产生的正式义务，通常指某项具体该做的事，语气比另外两个词更正式、更严肃。

  Soldiers have a duty to protect their country, no matter the cost.

  士兵有责任保卫国家，不惜一切代价。

Obligation, responsibility, and duty all relate to moral responsibility. Obligation stresses an inner, moral push, often from conscience. Responsibility stresses being in charge of something over time. Duty stresses a formal expectation tied to a role or job. Not compared: obligation (legal), duty (tax).

这三个词在“责任”这一义项上很接近，都表示应尽的义务，但语气和侧重点不同：obligation 强调发自道德或情感的驱动，responsibility 强调对某事持续负责，duty 强调因身份或职位而产生的正式义务。本卡不比较 obligation 的“法律义务”等其他用法，也不比较 duty 的“关税”义项。