vocation
vocation — noun
1. A job or area of work that feels naturally right for you — one you are willing t
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.
Teaching was not just a job for Élise — it was her true vocation.
collocation: true vocation
After years in business, Sayaka finally found her vocation as a children's doctor.
find + one's + vocation + as + [role]
Diego felt that being a firefighter was his vocation, and he trained every day.
Mateo spent his Saturday at the community centre helping teenagers with their problems, knowing this work was his true vocation.
For Maeve, the decision to become a nurse came from a deep sense of vocation.
- 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
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
2. A strong inner feeling, often based on religious belief, that you are called by
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.
At age thirty, Salma felt a vocation to become a Buddhist nun in Thailand.
collocation: vocation to become + [religious role]
The bishop recognised Christopher's sincere vocation to the priesthood during the retreat.
Saira's devotion to prayer confirmed that she had a true vocation to religious life.
Rachid spent three years in a seminary, questioning whether he truly had a vocation.
In many traditions, a vocation to religious life requires years of study and reflection.
- 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
3. The job that a person does to earn a living, especially one that requires specia
The job that a person does to earn a living, especially one that requires special training or skills.
Tanvi pursued a vocation in engineering after graduating from the technical university.
pursue + a + vocation + in + [field]
The survey asked each worker to state their current vocation and years of experience.
Stefan comes from a family where medicine is the traditional vocation for generations.
Sirin chose a vocation in early childhood education because she loved working with children.
Teaching is a demanding vocation that requires both patience and a willingness to adapt.
- 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
- 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.