Explanation at your level:
When you obey, you do what people say. If your mom says 'sit down', you sit down. That is obeying. It is good to obey your teachers at school.
To obey means to follow rules. For example, you must obey the traffic lights when you walk across the street. If you do not obey, you might get in trouble.
The verb obey is used when someone in charge gives an order. Soldiers must obey their commander. In daily life, we often talk about obeying the law to keep our community safe and organized.
Using obey implies a formal relationship between an authority figure and a subordinate. It is often used in legal, military, or strict educational contexts. You might hear someone say, 'He refused to obey the court's decision,' which shows a serious lack of compliance.
Beyond simple commands, obey can describe compliance with abstract systems, such as obeying the laws of physics or obeying the dictates of fashion. It suggests a lack of agency, where the subject is constrained by external forces or rules they cannot ignore.
In literary and philosophical contexts, obey takes on a deeper nuance of surrender. It can describe the internal struggle between personal desire and moral duty. To obey one's conscience is a classic trope, highlighting the tension between external authority and internal moral alignment throughout history.
30초 단어
- Obey means to follow rules.
- It is a transitive verb.
- It comes from Latin roots.
- It is formal and authoritative.
When you obey, you are showing that you respect authority by doing exactly what you are told. It is a fundamental concept in human society, helping us keep order in schools, workplaces, and homes.
Think of it as the opposite of being rebellious. Whether it is a child cleaning their room because a parent asked, or a driver stopping at a red light because the law requires it, obeying is about following the 'rules of the game' to ensure safety and harmony for everyone involved.
The word obey has a fascinating journey through history. It comes from the Old French word obeir, which traces back even further to the Latin oboedire.
The Latin root is a combination of ob (meaning 'towards') and audire (meaning 'to hear'). So, literally, to obey is to 'listen towards' someone. It suggests that in ancient times, the act of obeying was deeply linked to the act of listening carefully to a command. Over centuries, it moved from the French courts into English, keeping its core meaning of submission to authority.
You will often hear obey used in contexts involving rules, laws, or orders. It is a fairly formal verb, so you might not use it as much in casual conversation as you would in a classroom or legal setting.
Common phrases include obey the law, obey orders, and obey instructions. When you are speaking to friends, you might say 'follow the rules' instead, as 'obey' can sometimes sound a bit stern or military-like depending on the tone of your voice.
While 'obey' is a direct verb, it appears in many concepts. 1. Obey the call of nature (to go to the bathroom). 2. Obey the spirit of the law (following the intent rather than just the letter). 3. Blind obedience (following without questioning). 4. Obey orders (a military standard). 5. Obey your thirst (a famous marketing slogan).
Obey is a regular verb. Its past tense is obeyed and its present participle is obeying. It is often followed by a direct object, like 'obey the rules'.
Pronunciation-wise, it sounds like 'oh-BAY'. The stress is on the second syllable. It rhymes with words like 'convey', 'delay', 'display', 'relay', and 'today'. In British and American English, the pronunciation is quite similar, focusing on the clear 'ay' sound at the end.
Fun Fact
It shares a root with 'audio'.
Pronunciation Guide
Oh-bay
Oh-bay
Common Errors
- Pronouncing the 'o' as 'ah'
- Adding an extra syllable
- Stress on the first syllable
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
easy
moderate
moderate
easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
고급
Grammar to Know
Transitive Verbs
He obeys the law.
Subject-Verb Agreement
She obeys.
Modal Verbs
Must obey.
Examples by Level
I obey my teacher.
I follow my teacher's rules.
Subject + verb + object.
Obey the rules.
Follow the rules.
Imperative form.
Dogs obey people.
Dogs listen to humans.
Plural noun.
Do you obey?
Are you following?
Question form.
He must obey.
He has to follow.
Modal verb.
We obey laws.
We follow laws.
Simple present.
Please obey me.
Listen to me.
Polite request.
They obey orders.
They follow commands.
Direct object.
Children should obey their parents.
The driver did not obey the stop sign.
Soldiers are trained to obey.
We must obey the school rules.
He refused to obey the teacher.
Do you always obey your boss?
The dog was taught to obey.
They obey the laws of the land.
It is important to obey the safety regulations.
She felt compelled to obey his every wish.
The citizens were forced to obey the new decree.
He was punished for failing to obey orders.
The machine seems to obey his commands perfectly.
Do you find it hard to obey authority?
They are expected to obey the code of conduct.
He decided to obey his doctor's advice.
The organization demands that all members obey the constitution.
He has a natural tendency to obey authority figures.
The software is designed to obey user inputs instantly.
She struggled to obey the strict dietary restrictions.
They were warned to obey the local customs.
He chose to obey his conscience rather than the law.
The team must obey the coach's strategy.
The system is programmed to obey specific protocols.
The artist refused to obey the conventions of his time.
One must obey the fundamental laws of nature.
The character was forced to obey the whims of the tyrant.
He found it difficult to obey the dictates of his own heart.
The material seems to obey the principles of thermodynamics.
She learned to obey the unspoken rules of the office.
The structure was built to obey the architect's vision.
He was unable to obey the complex instructions provided.
The ritual requires the initiate to obey without question.
He sought to obey the transcendental laws of the universe.
The machine was crafted to obey the slightest gesture.
She felt a moral duty to obey the higher calling.
The law demands that all citizens obey its mandates.
His life was a testament to his desire to obey his faith.
The elements seemed to obey his command over the sea.
They were bound to obey the ancient traditions.
자주 쓰는 조합
Idioms & Expressions
"Obey the call of nature"
To go to the bathroom
I need to obey the call of nature.
casual"Blind obedience"
Following without thinking
He practiced blind obedience.
formal"Obey the letter of the law"
Strictly following rules
He obeyed the letter of the law.
formal"Obey your thirst"
Drink when thirsty
Just obey your thirst.
casual"Obey the spirit of the law"
Following the intent
Try to obey the spirit of the law.
formal"Obey without question"
Total compliance
He obeyed without question.
neutralEasily Confused
similar meaning
follow is broader
I follow the path vs I obey the law.
both mean obey
comply is more formal
Comply with rules.
both mean giving in
submit is more passive
Submit to power.
means listen
heed is about attention
Heed the advice.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + obey + noun
I obey the law.
Modal + obey
You must obey.
Refuse + to + obey
He refused to obey.
Expected + to + obey
They are expected to obey.
Adverb + obey
He blindly obeys.
어휘 가족
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
관련
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
자주 하는 실수
Obey is a transitive verb, no preposition needed.
Do not add 'with' after obey.
Direct object follows immediately.
Remove the 'to'.
Subject-verb agreement error.
Tips
Memory Palace
Imagine a judge in court.
Native Speakers
Used in legal settings.
Cultural Insight
Respect for authority.
Grammar Shortcut
No preposition needed.
Say It Right
Rhymes with today.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't add 'to'.
Did You Know?
Related to audio.
Study Smart
Use it in sentences.
Writing Tip
Use in formal essays.
Speaking Tip
Use 'follow' for casual.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
O-BEY: Only Be Eagerly Yielding.
Visual Association
A dog sitting perfectly still.
Word Web
챌린지
Write 3 rules you obey.
어원
Latin
Original meaning: To listen towards
문화적 맥락
Can imply power imbalance.
Often used in parenting and military contexts.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
School
- obey the teacher
- obey the rules
- obey instructions
Work
- obey safety rules
- obey company policy
- obey orders
Law
- obey the law
- obey the court
- obey mandates
Military
- obey the commander
- obey orders
- obey the chain of command
Conversation Starters
"Do you think it is important to obey rules?"
"When is it okay to not obey?"
"Do you find it hard to obey authority?"
"What happens when people do not obey?"
"Who taught you to obey as a child?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time you had to obey.
Is it better to obey or to question?
Describe a person who is very obedient.
What are the rules you always obey?
자주 묻는 질문
8 질문Yes, it is more formal than 'follow'.
No, just obey.
Obedience.
O-B-E-Y.
Yes.
It comes from the Latin for listen.
Yes, for training.
It can be if used as a command.
셀프 테스트
I ___ my parents.
Obey fits the context of parents.
Which means to follow rules?
Obey means to follow.
Obey is a noun.
Obey is a verb.
Word
뜻
Matching synonyms and antonyms.
We must obey the law.
점수: /5
Summary
To obey is to listen and act according to the rules set by those in authority.
- Obey means to follow rules.
- It is a transitive verb.
- It comes from Latin roots.
- It is formal and authoritative.
Memory Palace
Imagine a judge in court.
Native Speakers
Used in legal settings.
Cultural Insight
Respect for authority.
Grammar Shortcut
No preposition needed.
예시
Good children usually obey their parents.
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