B1 Noun (plural) / Verb (3rd person singular) ニュートラル #46 よく出る 1分で読める

charges

/ˈtʃɑːrdʒɪz/

Charges represent a formal demand for payment, a legal accusation, or electrical energy.

30秒でわかる単語

  • Amounts of money paid for goods or services provided.
  • Formal legal statements accusing someone of committing a specific crime.
  • The electrical energy stored in a battery or particle.

Overview

'Charges' is a versatile word in English with three primary domains: financial, legal, and scientific. At its core, it implies a 'load' or 'burden' placed upon someone or something, whether that is a financial cost, a legal responsibility for an action, or an electrical state. 2) Usage Patterns: In a financial sense, it is almost always used as a plural noun (e.g., 'service charges'). In a legal sense, it refers to specific counts of a crime (e.g., 'murder charges'). As a verb, it describes the act of asking for payment or the movement of energy into a battery. 3) Common Contexts: You will encounter 'charges' most frequently when looking at bank statements, reading news reports about court cases, or discussing mobile phone batteries. It is also used in leadership contexts, such as being 'in charge' of a group. 4) Similar Words Comparison: While 'fees' usually refer to professional services (like a lawyer's fee), 'charges' are broader and can apply to any commercial transaction. Unlike 'accusations', which can be informal, 'legal charges' are formal and documented by the state. In science, 'charges' are specific to electromagnetism, distinct from 'current' which is the flow of those charges.

例文

1

There are no extra charges for delivery.

everyday

There are no extra charges for delivery.

2

The police dropped the charges due to a lack of evidence.

formal

The police dropped the charges due to a lack of evidence.

3

My phone charges much faster with this new cable.

informal

My phone charges much faster with this new cable.

4

Protons carry positive electrical charges.

academic

Protons carry positive electrical charges.

よく使う組み合わせ

Service charges Service charges
Criminal charges Criminal charges
Free of charge Free of charge

よく使うフレーズ

In charge of

Responsible for

Press charges

To take legal action

Admission charges

Price to enter a place

よく混同される語

charges vs Fees

Fees are typically for professional services or memberships, while charges are more general for any cost or price.

charges vs Prices

A price is the total amount for an item; charges are often additional or specific costs added to a base price.

文法パターン

To face [adjective] charges To be free of charge Subject charges [amount] for [service]

How to Use It

📝

使い方のコツ

In financial contexts, 'charges' is neutral. In legal contexts, it is formal and serious. When used as a verb in the third person, it is common in both daily conversation (electronics) and business.


⚠️

よくある間違い

Do not confuse 'charges' with 'change' (the money you get back). Also, avoid using 'charges' as a singular noun when referring to a price; use 'charge' instead.

Tips

💡

Check your bank statements for hidden charges

Always look for 'hidden charges' which are extra costs not mentioned in the initial price.

⚠️

Legal charges are serious matters

If someone 'faces charges,' it means they are going to court for a suspected crime.

🌍

Service charges vary by country

In some countries, service charges are included in the price, while in others, they are added at the end.

📖

語源

Derived from the Old French word 'chargier', meaning to load a wagon or to burden someone with a task.

🌍

文化的な背景

In the UK and US, 'service charges' are often debated in restaurants regarding whether they replace a tip or are an additional fee.

🧠

覚え方のコツ

Think of a 'Credit Charge' (money) and a 'Police Charge' (crime). Both involve a 'bill' you have to answer for.

よくある質問

4 問

A fee is often a fixed price for professional advice or a specific right, while a charge is a more general term for any cost applied to a service or transaction.

It means to officially accuse someone of a crime so that a legal prosecution can begin.

Yes, it is the third-person singular form of the verb 'to charge,' meaning he or she asks for money or fills a battery.

These are additional costs added to the bill to pay for the work of the staff serving you.

自分をテスト

fill blank

Fill in the blank with the correct usage of the word.

The hotel added extra ___ for using the mini-bar.

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: charges

In this context, we need the plural noun referring to costs.

multiple choice

Identify the meaning of 'charges' in the following sentence: 'The suspect faces three charges of theft.'

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: Legal accusations

In a court or police context, charges refer to the crimes someone is accused of.

sentence building

Select the correct order to form a sentence.

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: The bank charges high fees.

This follows the Subject-Verb-Object pattern where 'charges' acts as the verb.

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