ought
ought — 動詞
1. to own or have something as one's property — used in older or formal English ins
擁有
擁有（財產、土地等）
to own or have something as one's property — used in older or formal English instead of the modern verb 'possess' or 'own'.
In 1687 Lord Ashworth of Northumberland ought a vast estate along the River Tyne.
1687年，諾森伯蘭的阿什沃斯勳爵在泰恩河畔擁有大片地產。
archaic transitive: person + ought + property
The old manuscript from Prague ought strange symbols that no one could read.
那本來自布拉格的古老手稿上有些奇怪的符號，沒有人能夠讀懂。
By the old law, the eldest son ought all the family land.
根據舊法，長子繼承了家族所有的土地。
The Welsh scholar Dewi ought a fine collection of rare books from the 17th century.
威爾斯學者 Dewi 擁有一套精美的十七世紀稀有藏書。
- lack
to be without something that one might be expected to have
文法句型
ought + noun phrase
用法筆記
This sense survives mainly in historical fiction, legal texts from earlier centuries, and biblical or liturgical language. In modern English, use 'own', 'possess', or 'have' instead.
常見錯誤
2. to be under an obligation to pay or give something to someone — a formal or arch
欠
欠（債、情義等）
to be under an obligation to pay or give something to someone — a formal or archaic way of saying 'owe'.
The Portuguese kingdom ought General Vasco a lasting debt of gratitude for his service in the colonies.
葡萄牙王國因瓦斯科將軍在殖民地的貢獻，欠他一份永久的感激之情。
double object: ought someone something
I ought the village elders a full explanation of why I had ordered the bridge destroyed.
我欠村中長老一個完整的解釋，說明我為何下令摧毀那座橋。
You ought me an apology for the way you spoke to the ambassador.
你欠我一個道歉，為了你對大使說話的那種態度。
Sahil ought his mentor a debt of loyalty that lasted a lifetime.
Sahil 欠他的導師一份莊重的忠誠之情，因為導師將他從破產中救了出來。
- owe
the standard modern equivalent; fully current in all registers
文法句型
ought + someone + something
ought + something + to + someone
用法筆記
Like the 'possess' sense, this use is archaic or highly literary. In contemporary English, use 'owe' instead (e.g., 'I owe you an apology'). The past tense is 'ought' (identical form) in the archaic paradigm.
常見錯誤
ought — 名詞
1. a moral duty or responsibility that a person feels they must carry out, often be
義務
道德上的責任或本分
a moral duty or responsibility that a person feels they must carry out, often because of their conscience, role, or a higher principle.
Nikos felt a deep ought to protect the ancient forest from the loggers.
Nikos 深感有義務保護那片古老森林不受伐木業者破壞。
formal noun: a + adjective + ought to + infinitive
The priest reminded the congregation of their ought to show kindness to strangers.
牧師提醒會眾，他們有義務善待陌生人。
Eliska considered it her sacred ought to care for her elderly mother until the end.
Eliska 認為照顧年邁的母親直到終老是自己的神聖義務。
The colonel told his regiment about the ought of honour — a duty that every soldier must follow.
上校對他的軍團談到榮譽的義務——這是每位軍人都必須遵守的責任。
- duty
the closest modern equivalent; broader and more common across all registers
- obligation
slightly more legal or contractual than 'duty'; emphasises binding force
- responsibility
focuses on the person who is expected to act, rather than the abstract principle
- right
a right is something one may claim; a duty is something one must give — they are opposite directions of moral force
文法句型
the ought to + infinitive
one's ought to + noun
用法筆記
This noun sense is rare in everyday speech. Unlike the modern modal 'ought to', the noun does not express probability or mild suggestion; it names a concrete moral obligation.