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.