compensation

/ˌkɒmpenˈseɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌkɑːmpenˈseɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌkäm-pən-ˈsā-shən -ˌpen-/ (ame, mw)

compensation — 名詞

  • compensationsingular
  • compensationsplural

1. money given to someone by a person or organization to make up for harm, loss, or

1.名詞B2
釋義

賠償

對損失或傷害的金錢補償

money given to someone by a person or organization to make up for harm, loss, or inconvenience that was caused

例句

The airline offered compensation to passengers whose luggage was lost during the flight.

航空公司向行李在飛行途中遺失的乘客提供賠償。

collocation: offer compensation

The Nakamura family filed a claim for compensation after their roof was damaged by the storm.

暴風雨損壞屋頂後，中村家向保險公司申請賠償。

collocation: claim compensation

同義詞
  • reparation

    more formal, often used for large-scale or historical harms

  • damages

    legal term for court-awarded money for injury or loss

  • restitution

    formal, emphasises restoring something to its original state

反義詞
  • loss

    what compensation is meant to offset

  • damage

    the harm that prompts compensation

文法句型

compensation + for + noun phrase

compensation + from + noun phrase

用法筆記

Uncountable — do not use an article ('a compensation'). Common in legal, insurance, and customer-service contexts. The preposition 'for' introduces the loss or harm being compensated.

常見錯誤

❌The company offered me a compensation for the damage.
✅The company offered me compensation for the damage.
💡Compensation is uncountable and does not take an article.
❌I received compensation of my broken phone.
✅I received compensation for my broken phone.
💡Use the preposition 'for', not 'of.'
❌She demanded a big compensation.
✅She demanded a large amount of compensation.
💡Use a quantity phrase instead of an adjective with an article.

2. something good that reduces the unpleasantness of a difficult or unfortunate sit

2.名詞B2
釋義

彌補

減輕不愉快感受的補償

something good that reduces the unpleasantness of a difficult or unfortunate situation, without involving money

例句

The low salary was disappointing, but a friendly team was some compensation for the hard work.

薪水雖低令人失望，但友善的團隊多少彌補了這份辛苦的工作。

pattern: be some compensation for

For Priya, the chance to travel was ample compensation for leaving her family behind.

對 Priya 來說，能夠出國旅行充分彌補了離開家人的遺憾。

pattern: be ample compensation for

同義詞
  • consolation

    more emotional, focuses on comforting someone who is sad or disappointed

  • offset

    neutral, emphasises balancing out a negative with a positive

  • recompense

    slightly formal, can include both financial and non-financial returns

反義詞

文法句型

be + compensation + for + noun phrase

find + compensation + in + noun phrase

用法筆記

Unlike sense 1, this sense can be countable ('a small compensation') in some contexts. Common patterns: 'be some/little/ample compensation for [something]' and 'find compensation in [something].' Often describes non-financial benefits that offset drawbacks.

常見錯誤

❌The friendly atmosphere was a big compensation for the low pay.
✅The friendly atmosphere was some compensation for the low pay.
💡In this sense, 'some/little/ample' are more natural than 'a big.'

3. the total pay, benefits, and perks that an employer provides to a worker in retu

3.名詞B1
釋義

薪酬

員工的薪資與福利總稱

the total pay, benefits, and perks that an employer provides to a worker in return for their services

例句

The job advertisement listed a competitive compensation package with health insurance and a retirement plan.

這則徵才廣告列出極具競爭力的薪酬方案，包含健康保險與退休計畫。

collocation: compensation package

Employees at the tech company receive generous compensation, including stock options and paid parental leave.

這家科技公司的員工享有優渥的薪酬，包括股票選擇權與帶薪育嬰假。

collocation: generous compensation

同義詞
  • remuneration

    more formal, often used in legal or HR writing

  • pay

    less formal, usually refers to base salary only

  • benefits package

    narrower, focuses on non-salary perks like insurance and leave

文法句型

compensation + package

compensation + for + position/role

用法筆記

In business English, compensation typically refers to the full employment package — salary plus bonuses, stock options, insurance, and other benefits — not just base pay. Common in formal job descriptions, HR documents, and employment negotiations.

常見錯誤

❌My compensation is 50,000 dollars per month.
✅My salary is 50,000 dollars per month.
💡Use 'salary' for base pay; 'compensation' includes the full package of pay plus benefits.