核心畫面

A helpful picture: something was outstanding — a wish, a promise, an order — sitting there as an empty shape waiting to be filled. Fulfilment is the moment that shape gets filled right up to the brim: what was only expected or owed has now actually happened, and nothing is left hanging.

本來有一個「空著、還沒兌現」的形狀擺在那裡——一個願望、一句承諾、一張訂單——它一直等著被填滿。fulfilment更多收起本來有一個「空著、還沒兌現」的形狀擺在那裡——一個願望、一句承諾、一張訂單——它一直等著被填滿。fulfilment 就是那個形狀被填到滿的時刻:原本只是被期待、被虧欠的東西,現在真的發生了,沒有東西還懸在半空。字面上就是 full + fill,「填到滿」,這個畫面幾乎解釋了它全部的用法。

From the word’s history

From Old English fullfyllan, literally full + fyllan 'to fill' — to fill something completely. The -ment ending turns the action into a thing. Every modern sense is still some version of an empty shape being filled to the top.

來自古英語 fullfyllan,就是 full(滿)+ fyllan(填)——把某個東西填到全滿;-ment 這個字尾再把「動作」變成「一件事」。這個字源特別好用,因為現代三個意思沒有一個離開它:願望被填滿、承諾被填滿、連心裡那塊空的地方被填滿,都是同一個動作。

Wiktionary / Online Etymology Dictionary (fulfilment ← fulfill ← Old English fullfyllan, full + fyllan 'to fill')

Two branches

把該兌現的填滿

這一支是字面義:外面確實有一個等著被兌現的東西,而它被兌現了。差別只在那個東西是「你想要的」還是「你答應的」。

wish coming true · noun · C2

When a thing you have wanted for a long time finally happens, or someone finally gives it to you.

實現

心裡被填滿的感覺

把「被填滿的東西」從外面搬到裡面:這次空著的不是一張訂單或一個承諾,而是人心裡那塊需要意義的地方。

sense of satisfaction · noun · C2

A settled, happy feeling about your life, coming from doing interesting, useful, or important things.

成就感

原始詞典資料3 筆記錄

以下是外部詞典記錄的用法,原文照列,我們還沒有寫成教學內容。上面的說明才是我們自己寫的;有些用法可能上面已經講過了。

fulfilmentnoun/fʊlˈfɪl.mənt/

  • 1

    The act of fulfilling or the state or quality of being fulfilled; consummation; completion; realization.

    • To achieve fulfilment of one's hopes.
    • Fulfilment of contractual obligations.
  • 2

    A feeling of satisfaction obtained from one's aspirations or needs being fulfilled.

    • What brings you fulfilment in life?
    • Personal fulfilment comes from having a sense of purpose.
  • 3

    businessThe activities performed once an order is received to fulfill the order; packaging, distributing and shipping goods.

資料來源:英文維基詞典 English WiktionaryCC BY-SA 4.0)。 原文照列,未經改寫。