“avoid duty”是一个常用英语短语,核心含义是“逃避责任/义务”,也可根据语境引申为“逃避关税”或“逃避值班/任务”(“duty”的具体义项决定)。以下是详细解析:
“duty”是关键多义词,需结合上下文判断“avoid duty”的具体所指:
当“duty”表示“某人应当履行的责任、义务或具体任务”(如工作职责、家庭责任、社会义务、值班等)时,“avoid duty”指故意不做应做的事,带贬义。
示例:
He always avoids his duty by making excuses.(他总找借口逃避责任。)
She can’t keep avoiding her parental duties—she needs to take care of her kids.(她不能一直逃避做父母的责任——得照顾孩子。)
The soldier was punished for avoiding night duty.(那名士兵因逃避夜班被处罚。)
当“duty”表示“海关征收的关税”(customs duty)时,“avoid duty”指通过非法/不正当手段不缴关税(此时更正式的表达是“evade duty”,但“avoid duty”也可通用)。
示例:
The smuggler tried to avoid duty by hiding goods in his luggage.(走私者把货物藏在行李里试图逃关税。)
The company was fined for avoiding duty on imported electronics.(该公司因逃避进口电子产品关税被罚款。)
“avoid duty”是动宾短语,主语通常是“人”或“组织”,常见搭配如下:
avoid one’s duty:逃避某人的责任(one’s替换为his/her/their等)
示例:She accused him of avoiding his marital duties.(她指责他逃避婚姻责任。)
avoid duty to sb./sth.:逃避对某人/某事的责任
示例:Citizens shouldn’t avoid their duty to vote.(公民不应逃避投票义务。)
avoid duty on sth.:逃避某物品的关税
示例:Travelers can’t avoid duty on expensive watches.(旅客不能逃避名贵手表的关税。)
avoid duty by doing sth.:通过做某事逃避责任/关税
示例:
He avoided duty by lying about his workload.(他通过谎报工作量逃避任务。)
Some people avoid duty by smuggling goods.(有人通过走私逃关税。)
avoid vs. evade:
“avoid”更口语化,指“一般的避开/不做”;“evade”更正式,强调“故意逃避法律/道德义务”(如evade taxes逃税、evade military duty逃避兵役)。
avoid vs. shirk:
“shirk”是动词,意为“逃避(工作/责任)”,更强调“偷懒”(如shirk one’s duty逃避责任),与“avoid one’s duty”近义但更口语。
“avoid duty”的核心是“逃避应尽的事”,具体含义需结合“duty”的语境:
若谈“责任、任务、值班”:逃避责任/义务;
若谈“海关、贸易”:逃避关税。
使用时注意搭配物主代词、介词或方式状语,明确具体所指。