compliment

/ˈkɒmplɪmənt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkɑːmplɪmənt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkäm-plə-mənt/ (ame, mw) · /ˈkɒm.plɪ.mənt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkɑːm.plə.mənt/ (ame, ipa)

compliment — 名詞

  • complimentsingular
  • complimentsplural

1. a spoken or written statement telling someone that you like or admire something

1.名詞B1
釋義

讚美；恭維

表達讚賞或敬意的話語

a spoken or written statement telling someone that you like or admire something about them, such as their appearance, skill, or achievement.

例句

Jude received a lovely compliment about his homemade pasta from the dinner guests.

Jude 聽到客人稱讚他親手做的義大利麵，心裡很開心。

receive a compliment — common collocation

Tariro smiled warmly and thanked her colleague for the kind compliment on her report.

Tariro 開心一笑，感謝同事對她的報告給予溫暖的讚美。

同義詞
  • praise

    broader — can be uncountable and less specific than a single 'compliment'

  • flattery

    excessive or insincere praise, often with a motive; more negative than 'compliment'

  • accolade

    formal, often public recognition of achievement; more serious and less casual

反義詞
  • insult

    a rude or offensive remark that wounds someone's pride

  • criticism

    an expression of disapproval based on perceived faults

用法筆記

A compliment is said or written; a similar action-based expression uses a different sense of the word (see noun sense 2).

常見錯誤

❌She complemented me on my new haircut.
✅She complimented me on my new haircut.
💡'complement' means to complete or go well with something; 'compliment' means to praise.
❌I take that as a complement.
✅I take that as a compliment.
💡same confusion in the noun form.

2. an action or gesture that shows admiration or respect for someone, rather than e

2.名詞B2
釋義

表示敬意

以行動表達的讚賞

an action or gesture that shows admiration or respect for someone, rather than expressing it in words.

例句

Henrik asking for your advice is a real compliment — he trusts your judgment.

Henrik 徵求你的意見本身就是一種敬意——他信任你的判斷。

[action] is a real compliment — pattern for non-verbal admiration

The committee saw Gabriel's promotion as a compliment to his years of hard work.

委員會將 Gabriel 的升職視為對他多年辛勤工作的肯定。

同義詞
  • tribute

    more formal and deliberate; often involves a ceremony or public gesture

  • honour

    stronger — implies great respect and privilege

用法筆記

This sense often follows the pattern 'noun phrase + be + a compliment (to someone/something)' where the noun phrase describes the action. Distinguish from noun sense 1, where the compliment is explicitly a remark.

3. polite words of praise or good wishes sent to someone in a formal or courteous w

3.名詞B2
釋義

問候；致意

正式場合表達的祝福或讚美

polite words of praise or good wishes sent to someone in a formal or courteous way, especially when praising a host, a chef, or when signing off a message.

例句

Please give my compliments to the chef — the grilled fish was cooked to perfection.

請代我向主廚致意——那條烤魚料理得恰到好處。

give my compliments to [someone] — fixed formal phrase

Sade sent her compliments along with a thank-you note to the event organisers.

Sade 在感謝信中附上了對活動主辦單位的問候。

同義詞
  • regards

    more general good wishes, not necessarily involving praise

  • greetings

    neutral — can be used in any correspondence; no element of praise

文法句型

give/send + one's compliments + to + someone

用法筆記

Almost always in the plural form 'compliments' and part of a fixed expression ('give/send my compliments'). Less common in everyday conversation; more typical in restaurants, formal correspondence, or when speaking through a third party.

4. used when a business or organisation gives something to a customer free of charg

4.名詞B2
釋義

免費贈送

商家免費提供的饋贈

used when a business or organisation gives something to a customer free of charge as a polite, welcoming gesture.

例句

The hotel left fresh fruit and a bottle of wine in the room with their compliments.

飯店在房間裡放了新鮮水果和一瓶葡萄酒，作為免費招待。

with one's compliments — set phrase for free gifts

A complimentary ticket for the show arrived with the theatre company's compliments.

一張表演的招待券隨著劇院的贈禮一起送達。

文法句型

with + one's + compliments

用法筆記

Only used in the fixed phrase 'with compliments' or 'with the compliments of [business]'. Unlike sense 3 ('give my compliments to the chef'), this sense signals that no payment is expected. Commonly seen on hotel welcome notes, promotional samples, or complimentary tickets.

compliment — 動詞