“attain”和“obtain”这两个词都含有“获得”或“达到”的意思，但它们的用法和语境有所不同。
1.“attain”则更多用于正式场合，指经过巨大努力才得以达到重要目的或得到珍贵的东西或理想或希望，即指通过长时间的艰苦努力而得到所需或盼望已久的东西，如成就、重要职位等。可以翻译为：达到。实现，完成；例如，
attain a position of power（获得权力）。
attain the end/goal达到目的
attain one’s hope/object 实现希望/达到目标
Most of our students attained five ‘A’ grades in their exams.
我们多数学生的考试成绩是五个优。
Jim is halfway to attaining his pilot's licence.
吉姆就快要拿到飞行员执照了。
What if I too were someday to attain the same fame and fortune as he?
如果有一天我也能像他一样名利双收呢？
It is a dream that one struggles and perseveres to attain.
这是一个梦想，我们为实现它而奋斗和坚持。
We may reexamine our goals or our methods for attaining our goals.
我们可能会重新审视我们的目标或我们实现目标的方法。
He attained the position of President of Ford Motors.
他终于当上了福特汽车公司的总裁。
His painstaking efforts to attain his pilot's licence is praiseworthy.
他为获得飞行员执照所下的苦功是值得赞扬的。
She attained a high level of success in her career.
她在职业生涯中取得了很高的成功。
She attained her goal of becoming a successful businesswoman.
她实现了成为一名成功女商人的目标。
They were unable to attain their objectives.
他们未能达到他妈的目的。
With the exception of Juan, each attained a measure of success.
除了胡安之外，每个人都获得了相当大的成功。
The day is not far off when China will attain prosperity.
中国的兴盛是可以计日程功的。
Still greater efforts are needed before we can attain our goal.
我们必须百尺竿头，更进一步，才能达到目的。
He attained a good mark in the examination.
他在考试中得到好分数。
We hope this objective will be attained.
我们希望这个目标能够达到。
2. “obtain”通常指通过努力或恳求得到急需或想要的（一般比较具体的）东西，例如，
obtain a visa获得签证
obtain a prize获得奖金
obtain loan获得贷款
obtain knowledge获得知识
obtain an experience获得经历
obtain advice/information/permission/help/approval/ financing/weapons
得到忠告 / 信息 / 许可/帮助/批准/资金/武器
The team obtained a victory in the tournament.
球队在比赛中取得了胜利。
He obtained a degree in engineering from a prestigious university.
他从一所著名的大学获得了工程学位。
To obtain her degree, she answered 81 questions over 10 papers.
为获得学位，她回答了10页纸上的81个问题。
The company obtained a large contract from a foreign client.
公司从一个外国客户那里获得了一份大合同。
I finally managed to obtain a copy of the report.
我终于设法弄到了这份报告的一个副本。
Only the intervention of powerful friends obtained her release.
经过有影响力的朋友们斡旋她才得以释放。
You can obtain the product from all good chemists.
你可从各大药房买到这种产品。
She obtained 40% of the vote.
她获得40%的选票。
They have obtained an injunction restraining the company from selling the product.
他们已经得到阻止这家公司出售这一产品的禁销令。
He lowballed the cost of the project in order to obtain federal funding.
他为了得到联邦资助而故意压低项目的成本价格。
They indulged in some highly dubious business practices to obtain their current position in the market.
他们采取了一些极为可疑的商业手段以取得目前在市场上的地位。
He was accused of obtaining property by deception.
他被指控骗取钱财。
She was accused of obtaining money under false pretences.
她被控诈骗钱财。
The publisher is responsible for obtaining the necessary permissions to reproduce illustrations.
出版者负责取得准予复制插图的必要许可文件。
Only with mass direct action will we obtain such change.
只有采取大规模直接行动，我们才会取得这样的改变。
The perfect body has always been difficult to obtain.
完美的身材总是很难拥有。
The majority obtained their positions through the old boy network.
大多数人都是通过校友关系谋得其职位的。
He obtained his first job through the milk round.
他在校园招聘会上找到了第一份工作。
His method of obtaining a high level of productivity is demanding.
他那种提高生产率的方法实施起来非常困难。
A score of countries may be producing or planning to obtain chemical weapons.
大概有20个国家可能正在制造或计划获取化学武器。
The number of young people obtaining qualifications has remained static or decreased.
获得资格证的年轻人数量一直维持不变或出现下降。
I have obtained the services of a top photographer to take our pictures.
我已请到了一位顶级摄影师来给我们拍照。