liable
gb/lˈaɪəbəl/ us/lˈaɪəbəl/
B2
英语
~ 5400
义项
0 个义项
adjective
formal
C1
property
1
Legally responsible for something
Responsible by law for something bad that happens, often having to pay money for it.
用法模式：
liable for [something]
常见错误：
Learners often confuse "liable" with "reliable." "Liable" means legally responsible, while "reliable" means that you can trust someone or something. Another common mistake is using the wrong preposition: in legal contexts, use "liable for [something]" (e.g. "liable for damages"), not "liable to damages."
近义词
legally responsible (More explicit and slightly longer; clearly states the legal aspect.)
|
answerable (Can be legal or moral; not always about money or court cases.)
反义词
exempt (Emphasizes being officially free from a legal duty or payment that others must meet.)
搭配
held liable
|liable for damages
|liable for negligence
|personally liable
|strictly liable
|jointly liable
主题
law
|business
|finance
例句
- The court found the company liable for the customer's injuries.
- Under the contract, the supplier is liable for any defects in the products.
- Parents can be held liable for damage caused by their minor children.
- If you sign this agreement, you will be liable for all repair costs.
- The landlord was not liable for items left in the hallway.
学习者例句
- The driver was liable for the car accident.
- The hotel is liable for things that are stolen from the safe.
- In this country, employers are liable for workplace accidents.
- If you break it, you are liable for the cost.
- The company is liable for any harm caused by its products.
adjective
B2
property
2
Likely to do something bad
Likely to do something, especially something bad or not wanted.
用法模式：
liable to [do something]
常见错误：
Learners sometimes use "liable" when "likely" would sound more natural in modern English. "Liable to" is often used for negative or unwanted results ("liable to break"), while "likely to" works for both good and bad outcomes. Also avoid saying "liable that"; use "liable to [do]" instead.
近义词
likely (More general and neutral; does not carry the same slight negative or problematic tone as "liable to" often does.)
|
prone (Very similar, but often used for habits or repeated behavior rather than single events.)
反义词
unlikely (Direct opposite in terms of probability; suggests something probably will not happen.)
搭配
liable to forget
|liable to make mistakes
|liable to say the wrong thing
|liable to cause problems
|liable to change
|liable to be late
主题
daily life
|probability
|core_vocabulary
例句
- He's liable to forget your birthday if you don't remind him.
- That old laptop is liable to crash if you open too many programs.
- Be careful what you say; she's liable to take it the wrong way.
- The weather here is liable to change very quickly.
- If you push him too hard, he's liable to quit.
学习者例句
- He is liable to be late for meetings.
- This cheap phone is liable to break soon.
- The train is liable to arrive late in bad weather.
- She is tired, so she is liable to make mistakes.
- If you eat too fast, you are liable to feel sick.
adjective
B2
property
3
Prone or susceptible to something
Easily affected by something, like an illness or damage.
用法模式：
liable to [something]
常见错误：
Learners sometimes confuse this with the "likely to do something" sense. Here, the subject usually does not actively do the action, but is affected by it ("liable to infection" = infection happens to them). Also, use a noun after "liable to" in this sense, not a verb (say "liable to injury," not "liable to injure" when you mean they might be injured).
近义词
prone (Very close in meaning; often used for physical or emotional tendencies ("prone to headaches").)
|
susceptible (Sounds slightly more formal and technical, common in medical or scientific contexts.)
反义词
resistant (Used especially when something does not easily suffer from a problem, damage, or disease.)
搭配
liable to injury
|liable to infection
|liable to damage
|liable to corrosion
|liable to error
|liable to flooding
主题
health
|science
|daily life
例句
- Children are more liable to infection than adults.
- This material is very liable to damage if it gets wet.
- The region is liable to flooding after heavy rain.
- Older buildings are especially liable to earthquake damage.
- Some people are more liable to error when they are under pressure.
学习者例句
- My skin is liable to sunburn.
- Old cars are liable to rust.
- This road is liable to flooding in winter.
- He is weak and liable to illness.
- The glass is thin and liable to break.
adjective
formal
C1
property
4
Legally subject to tax or penalty
Having to pay a tax or possibly receive a legal punishment according to the law.
用法模式：
liable to [tax/penalty]
常见错误：
Learners may mix this with the more general "liable to" = "likely to" meaning. In legal or official texts, "liable to" followed by words like "tax," "fine," or "imprisonment" usually means "legally subject to," not just "likely to." Also, be careful not to say "liable for tax to"; use "liable to tax" or "liable for tax" consistently, depending on the style of the text.
近义词
subject to (Common in legal and official writing; slightly broader, can be used outside law as well.)
反义词
exempt from (Used when a person or thing does not have to pay a tax or face a penalty that would normally apply.)
搭配
liable to tax
|liable to income tax
|liable to a fine
|liable to imprisonment
|liable to prosecution
|liable to arrest
主题
law
|finance
|government
例句
- All imported goods are liable to tax at the standard rate.
- Anyone who commits fraud is liable to imprisonment under this law.
- Certain benefits are not liable to income tax.
- Drivers caught speeding may be liable to a substantial fine.
- Foreign nationals without a visa are liable to deportation.
学习者例句
- In this country, all workers are liable to income tax.
- If you park here, you are liable to a fine.
- Smoking in this area is liable to a heavy penalty.
- The company is liable to prosecution if it breaks the safety rules.
- The products are liable to customs duty at the border.
语法
词典原形
liable
IPA
GB/lˈaɪəbəl/
US/lˈaɪəbəl/
音节与重音
li - able （2 个音节）
Stress on 1st syllable (li)
词形变化
Adjective
- Base: liable
词族
Core family
liability
noun B2
相关表达
be held liable
1/bˈi hˈɛld lˈaɪəbəl/
fixed phrase
formal
Be officially found responsible
To be officially decided, usually by a court or authority, to be legally responsible for something bad that happened.
例句
- The manufacturer was held liable after the product caused serious injuries.
- If the data is leaked, the company could be held liable under privacy laws.
- The landlord was held liable for failing to repair the broken stairs.
hold someone liable
1/hˈoʊld sˈʌmwˌʌn lˈaɪəbəl/
fixed phrase
formal
Decide someone is legally responsible
To officially say that a person or group must accept legal responsibility for something bad that happened.
例句
- The court held the surgeon liable for the patient's death.
- The tenants argue that the building owner should be held liable for the fire.
- Regulators may hold the company liable for any environmental damage.
liable for damages
1/lˈaɪəbəl fɚ dˈæmɪd͡ʒɪz/
fixed phrase
formal
Responsible for paying compensation
Legally required to pay money to someone because you caused loss, injury, or harm.
例句
- The firm was found liable for damages after the data breach.
- If you break the contract, you may be liable for damages.
- The insurance company is liable for damages up to $50,000.
liable for tax
1/lˈaɪəbəl fɚ tˈæks/
fixed phrase
formal
Required to pay tax
Having to pay a particular tax according to the law.
例句
- Most employees are liable for tax on their salaries.
- Scholarships may not be liable for tax in some countries.
- Foreign income can be liable for tax in your home country.
liable to tax
1/lˈaɪəbəl tə tˈæks/
fixed phrase
formal
Legally subject to taxation
In a group of things that the government can legally tax.
例句
- Pension payments are liable to tax at the normal rate.
- Certain benefits are not liable to tax under this scheme.
- All interest earned may be liable to tax in your country of residence.
personally liable
1/pˈɚsənəli lˈaɪəbəl/
fixed phrase
formal
Individually responsible with own money
Responsible with your own money and property, not just through a company or organization.
例句
- As a sole trader, you are personally liable for all business debts.
- Directors can be personally liable if they act dishonestly.
- Without limited liability, investors would be personally liable for company losses.
strictly liable
1/stɹˈɪktli lˈaɪəbəl/
fixed phrase
technical
Liable even without proving fault
Legally responsible for harm even if nobody can show that you were careless or did something wrong.
例句
- In some product cases, manufacturers are strictly liable for defects.
- The company is strictly liable for pollution caused by its pipeline.
- Owners of dangerous animals may be strictly liable for any injuries.