complement
/ˈkɒmplɪment/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkɑːmplɪment/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkäm-plə-mənt/ (ame, mw) · /ˈkɒm.plɪ.ment/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkɑːm.plə.ment/ (ame, ipa)
complement — 動詞
- complementpresent simple I / you / we / they
- complementshe / she / it
- complementedpast simple
- complementing-ing form
1. when one thing goes with another so well that each shows its finest qualities, a
互補；襯托
與某物搭配使其更顯出色
when one thing goes with another so well that each shows its finest qualities, and together they create a more satisfying result
The navy scarf beautifully complements Priya's grey winter coat.
那條海軍藍圍巾完美地襯托出 Priya 的灰色冬季外套。
adverb beautifully between verb and object
A crisp green salad complements a heavy pasta dish perfectly.
清脆的綠色沙拉與濃郁的義大利麵搭配得恰到好處。
For her best friend's garden party, Mei wondered what colour shoes would complement her yellow-and-white dress best.
為了參加閨蜜的花園派對，Mei 在想什麼顏色的鞋子最能搭配她那件黃白相間的洋裝。
The warm wooden floors complement the white walls in Ravi's kitchen.
溫暖的木質地板與 Ravi 廚房的白色牆面相互襯托。
Hana's silver earrings complement her blue evening dress nicely.
Hana 的銀色耳環與她的藍色晚裝搭配得很雅緻。
- supplement
adds what is missing rather than harmonising with what exists
- enhance
improves quality in a general way, not necessarily through matching
- complete
focuses on making something whole rather than on harmony between parts
文法句型
complement + noun phrase
用法筆記
Frequently confused with 'compliment' (with an i), which means to praise. The verb complement always takes a direct object — you complement one thing with another. Subject is usually a concrete item (food, colour, clothing, design) or an abstract quality (personality, skill).
常見錯誤
complement — 名詞
1. a person or thing that combines well with another, adding qualities that the oth
補足物
能補足另一事物使其更完美者
a person or thing that combines well with another, adding qualities that the other lacks or making the combination more effective and attractive
The red wine was the perfect complement to Leila's roast chicken.
這瓶紅酒是 Leila 烤雞大餐的完美搭配。
perfect complement to + noun
Yusuf views his calm personality as a complement to his partner's lively energy.
Yusuf 認為自己沉穩的性格正好補充伴侶活潑的精力。
The new metro lines in Oslo are a perfect complement to the city's existing tram and ferry network.
奧斯陸的新地鐵路線與市內現有的電車和渡輪網絡形成了完美的互補。
The small balcony garden is a lovely complement to Nadia's city apartment.
小小的陽台花園是 Nadia 市區公寓最相襯的搭配。
- counterpart
emphasises matching or corresponding roles rather than improvement
- companion
suggests two items designed or meant to go together
- accompaniment
something that is served or provided with another, common with food and drink
- opposite
something that is completely different rather than harmoniously matched
文法句型
a complement to + noun
用法筆記
Commonly followed by the preposition 'to' (a complement to something). Do not confuse with 'compliment' (praise). This sense emphasises the positive result of a combination, not just addition.
常見錯誤
2. in grammar, an expression placed after a linking verb that says something about
補語
跟在動詞後補充主詞或受詞的句子成分
in grammar, an expression placed after a linking verb that says something about the subject — for instance, 'tired' in 'He looks tired' functions as a subject complement
During grammar practice, Aiko identified 'a doctor' in 'She became a doctor' as a subject complement.
在文法練習中，Aiko 辨認出句子「She became a doctor」裡的「a doctor」是主詞補語。
subject complement after linking verb become
The teacher asked the class to identify the complement in 'The sky turned grey.'
老師請全班找出句子「The sky turned grey」中的補語。
Tomás mistakenly called 'a prize' in 'The team won a prize' a subject complement on a quiz.
Tomás 在一次小考中誤把「The team won a prize」裡的「a prize」當作主詞補語。
In her grammar workbook, Yuki circled 'delicious' as a complement in 'The soup tastes delicious,' earning praise from her teacher.
在文法練習本上，Yuki 正確圈選出「The soup tastes delicious」中的「delicious」作為補語，得到了老師的稱讚。
- predicate nominative
a specific type of complement that is a noun or noun phrase renaming the subject
- predicate adjective
a specific type of complement that is an adjective describing the subject
文法句型
subject complement
object complement
用法筆記
Only appears after linking verbs (be, become, seem, feel, look, taste, sound, remain) or verbs of choosing/naming (elect, call, make). A direct object is not a complement — the two terms are distinct in grammar analysis.