我們先從兩者的定義入手來看兩者的區別Compare的定義為:to examine people or things to see how they are similar or different.Contrast的定義為:to compare two or more things to show the difference between them.由定義不難看出前者側重於找到兩個或多個事物的異同,而後者則側重於它們的不同.
看個例句:It is interesting to compare their situations to ours.It is interesting to contrast their situations to ours.
前壹句翻譯為:對比壹下我們的情況與他們的情況會很有趣.後壹句的翻譯為:我們的情況與他們的情況有很大的不同,這很有趣.
再看壹個引自OXFORD ADBANCED LEARNER’S DICTIONARY的例子:
There is an obvious contrast between the culture of East and West.
The company lost $7 million in contrast to a profit of $6.2 million a year earlier.
When you look at their new system,ours seems very old-fashioned by contrast.
雅思培訓班名師指點迷津:不難發現,Compare 翻譯為“ 與...相比”而contrast可譯為“明顯不同的是...”,切記這種翻譯方式就不會用錯彼此了.