Question

inflict 【inflict】v.使负担The government inflicted excessively heavy income taxes on the people.那个政府在人民身上征收了过重的税。

Accepted Answer

[ɪn'flɪkt] 
inflictimpose something unpleasant
When you force an undesirable or harmful event on someone, you inflict it on them. You might prefer that someone inflict some physical pain on you rather than inflict you with the boredom of another trip to the annual flower show.
The verb inflict comes from the Latin word inflictus, meaning “to strike or dash against.” If you cause anything bad to happen to a person, animal, or even an object, you inflict that badness on them. For example, someone can inflict injuries or suffering on other people or inflict damage on property. We can inflict pollution or over-development on our environment. It's always a negative thing — you wouldn't say you inflict happiness or love on others.
All forms of 'inflict' will appear on average once every 307 pages.inflictinfliction
CHOOSE RIGHT WORDS: AFFLICT-INFLICT
			
  Both afflict and inflict cause pain,  but afflict means to cause suffering or unhappiness, something a disease does, but inflict means to force pain or suffering, like if you smack someone upside  the head.
  If  something afflicts you, it hurts.  Cancer, death, arthritis, or even bad skin can afflict you. Afflict is  often, but not always, followed by the preposition with:

It's also quite likely that he was afflicted with an eating disorder. (Slate)
    
      He has never publicly revealed what type of cancer afflicted him. (New York Times)
    
      In the proud tradition of genuine watchdog  journalism, Khalil Bendib's work aims to comfort the afflicted and afflict the  comfortable. (Brunei Times)

Inflict is meaner. It's more aggressive  — it actively hurts and causes problems. A self-inflicted wound is when you hurt yourself. Inflict is often, but not always, followed by on:

Some participants in the debate said the rule could  unintentionally inflict economic harm on Africans. (Washington Post)
    
      Five other men accused of taking part in the fight  were convicted of hooliganism and inflicting light bodily injury. (Seattle Times)
    
      Most injuries are self-inflicted; they're not necessarily inflicted by others.  (New York Times)

The  difference between the two is whether the emphasis is on the one suffering or  the one causing the suffering. Afflict emphasizes who is doing the suffering. Inflict emphasizes the person or thing causing the suffering. Try this: I am afflicted with something terrible,  so I inflict injuries upon others.

Front	inflict
Pron	[ɪn'flɪkt]
Back	【inflict】 v.使负担 The government inflicted excessively heavy income taxes on the people. 那个政府在人民身上征收了过重的税。
Vocab	inflictimpose something unpleasant When you force an undesirable or harmful event on someone, you inflict it on them. You might prefer that someone inflict some physical pain on you rather than inflict you with the boredom of another trip to the annual flower show. The verb inflict comes from the Latin word inflictus, meaning “to strike or dash against.” If you cause anything bad to happen to a person, animal, or even an object, you inflict that badness on them. For example, someone can inflict injuries or suffering on other people or inflict damage on property. We can inflict pollution or over-development on our environment. It's always a negative thing — you wouldn't say you inflict happiness or love on others. All forms of 'inflict' will appear on average once every 307 pages. inflict infliction CHOOSE RIGHT WORDS: AFFLICT-INFLICT Both afflict and inflict cause pain, but afflict means to cause suffering or unhappiness, something a disease does, but inflict means to force pain or suffering, like if you smack someone upside the head. If something afflicts you, it hurts. Cancer, death, arthritis, or even bad skin can afflict you. Afflict is often, but not always, followed by the preposition with: It's also quite likely that he was afflicted with an eating disorder. (Slate) He has never publicly revealed what type of cancer afflicted him. (New York Times) In the proud tradition of genuine watchdog journalism, Khalil Bendib's work aims to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. (Brunei Times) Inflict is meaner. It's more aggressive — it actively hurts and causes problems. A self-inflicted wound is when you hurt yourself. Inflict is often, but not always, followed by on: Some participants in the debate said the rule could unintentionally inflict economic harm on Africans. (Washington Post) Five other men accused of taking part in the fight were convicted of hooliganism and inflicting light bodily injury. (Seattle Times) Most injuries are self-inflicted; they're not necessarily inflicted by others. (New York Times) The difference between the two is whether the emphasis is on the one suffering or the one causing the suffering. Afflict emphasizes who is doing the suffering. Inflict emphasizes the person or thing causing the suffering. Try this: I am afflicted with something terrible, so I inflict injuries upon others.

Inflict Afflict Inflicted Suffering Times Afflicted Force Pain