1. Attendance at tonight''s meeting is obligatory.
    今晚的会必须出席。

1. 强制性的：但尽管如此,现在已经有迹象表明,英国法院准备对那些涉及侵犯欧洲人权公约和国内法保障的基本权利的案件适用比例原则,特别是1997年人权法案(the human rights bill 1997)制定以后,适用比例原则成为强制性的(obligatory).

2. 义务：判例法(casuistry)和关怀论(尤其是女性主义关怀伦理学)的地位如何,其伦理原则与伦理经验各起什么样的作用等等.规范伦理学的核心问题是:我们应该做什么 或者更具体地说,什么事情我们有义务(obligatory)去做,什么事情我们不能(prohibitive)去做,

3.

3. 必须的：就话语结构而言,后续话步在某些情况下可有可无,而回应则在任何情形下都是必须的(obligatory),因为它满足前一话语的期待.保持话语结构的连贯(coherent),保证会话交际的顺畅.

4. [强制性]：同性恋行为并非人类特有之行为,许多灵长类或亚灵长类的哺乳动物也都有类似的行为. 不过,人类(Homosapiens)则是唯一一种被观察到在自然状况下有成年期中偏好的(preferential)或带强制性(obligatory)的同性恋行为的物种.

1. （按照规定或法律）必须履行的，强制性的
    If something is obligatory, you must do it because of a rule or a law.

    e.g. Most women will be offered an ultrasound scan during pregnancy, although it''s not obligatory...
           大多数处于妊娠期的妇女将被建议接受超声波检查，不过这不是强制性的。
    e.g. These rates do not include the charge for obligatory medical consultations.
           这些费用不含必要的就诊费。

2. 习惯性的;礼节性的;随大溜的
    If you describe something as obligatory, you mean that it is done from habit or custom and not because the person involved has thought carefully about it or really means it.

    e.g. His lips curved up in the obligatory smile, acknowledging the compliment...
           他嘴边礼节性地挤出一个微笑，以示对称赞致谢。
    e.g. She was wearing the obligatory sweater and pearl necklace.
           她穿着那件经常穿的毛衣，戴着那串惯常戴的珍珠项链。

1. morally or legally constraining or binding

    e.g. attendance is obligatory
           an obligatory contribution

2. required by obligation or compulsion or convention

    e.g. he made all the obligatory apologies