1
pay one's dues
dues 常用复数，指“会费”或“欠款”。
She paid her union dues every month.
她每月都缴纳工会会费。
会费；会员费
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
会费；会员费
A fee charged for membership of a club or organization.
She paid her union dues every month.
她每月都缴纳工会会费。
常用复数形式 dues 表示此义
应得的承认。
Deserved acknowledgment.
会员费。
A membership fee.
欠款；债务；应得或可主张的权利；习俗、法律或道德要求做的事；义务。
That which is owed; debt; that which belongs or may be claimed as a right; whatever custom, law, or morality requires to be done, duty.
权利；正当的所有权或主张。
Right; just title or claim.
He finally received his due after years of hard work.
经过多年的努力工作，他终于得到了应得的东西。
All members must pay their annual dues by the end of the month.
所有会员必须在月底前缴纳年度会费。
The court decided that the victim got his just due.
法院裁定受害人得到了他应得的公正对待。
dues 常用复数，指“会费”或“欠款”。
She paid her union dues every month.
她每月都缴纳工会会费。
这是固定表达，意为“公道地说”或“承认某人的优点”。
To give him his due, he is very honest.
说句公道话，他非常诚实。
此处 due 为名词，意为“应得之物或应有的权利”。
She finally got her due after years of hard work.
经过多年努力，她终于得到了应得的东西。
Not this
I paid my membership due yesterday.
Use this
I paid my membership dues yesterday.
表示“会费”时，due 通常要用复数 dues；单数 due 表示“应得之物、欠款”等，和 membership 搭配时 dues 才是自然的说法。
Not this
Everyone should do their due.
Use this
Everyone should do their duty.
“尽责任/义务”的固定搭配是 do one's duty；due 作名词虽有“义务”的词典义，但现代英语中不说 do one's due，常用的是 give someone their due（给某人应有的认可）。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
付出代价；经受磨炼（以获得经验或资格）
She paid her dues by working odd jobs before landing her first real role.
她在得到第一个真正的角色之前，靠打零工来积累资历。
给予某人应有的肯定；说句公道话
To give her due, she finished the project ahead of schedule.
说句公道话，她提前完成了项目。
会员费
Membership dues are used to fund club activities.
会员费用于资助俱乐部活动。
工会会费
Union dues are automatically deducted from his paycheck.
工会会费会自动从他的工资中扣除。
未结清的欠款；未缴费用
Please settle your outstanding dues before the end of the month.
请在月底前结清你未缴的费用。
缴纳会费的会员
As a dues-paying member, you have the right to vote.
作为缴纳会费的会员，你有权投票。
承认某人的优点或功劳；给某人应有的评价
I don't like him, but to give him his due, he works very hard.
我不喜欢他，但公平地说，他工作非常努力。
通过辛勤努力或付出赢得资格或地位；付出应尽的代价
She paid her dues as a junior reporter before becoming an editor.
她在当初级记者时付出了辛劳，之后才成为编辑。
公平地看待不喜欢的人；公道待人（即使对讨厌的人也承认其优点）
He is so rude, but to give the devil his due, he does great work.
他非常粗鲁，但平心而论，他的工作做得确实很棒。
公平对待讨厌的人；对坏人也要给予应有的评价。
He is a difficult boss, but to give the devil his due, he always pays his team well.
他是一位难相处的老板，但平心而论，他给团队的报酬总是很优厚。
我一次又一次地付出了代价。
After years of hard work, she has paid her dues and finally earned the promotion.
经过多年的努力工作，她已经付出了应有的努力，终于获得了晋升。
Use due naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
联想：看到 dues，想到钱包里到期的账单——欠款/会费是该交的，付清后应得的权利才归你。
语域：neutral 常见场景：membership renewal form、club or union dues statement、financial records for fees 作名词时，多指 dues（会费、应缴费），常见于正式通知或财务语境；在口语中较少单独用 due 表示“应得之物”。
与 due 押韵的词：true /tru:/, blue /blu:/, glue /ɡlu:/, clue /klu:/, queue /kju:/（元音均为 /u:/）。注意：value 虽以 ue 结尾，但重音在首音节（/ˈvælju:/），不与 due 押韵。还要小心 do /du:/ 发音与 due 相似，但通常没有 /j/ 音；dew /dju:/ 是 due 的同音词，但拼写为 ew。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY, WORDNET.