很多人分不清compliment和complement。原因很简单：它们的发音相同，拼写也相似，但是，二者的意义则完全不同。

如果你compliment某人，你就是在表达对他们的赞赏，或者因为某件事而表扬他们。这里有一些取自牛津英语语料库的例子，可以向你展示该动词的正确用法。

The airline thanked the passengers for their help and complimented the captain on his initiative.
航空公司对乘客的帮助表示了感谢，并主动表扬了机长。

Make a mental note of the colours you’re wearing whenever people compliment you on the way you look.
每一次别人对你的仪容表示赞赏时，在心里记下你衣着的颜色。

I must compliment all of our employees for their support and commitment this year.
对于今年所有起到帮助和奉献作用的员工，我必须提出表扬。

Passers-by stopped to compliment him on his handiwork.
行人停下来，对他的手工制品赞不绝口。

When you are complimented for something that you know was a team effort, don’t forget to give credit to the team.
当你因为整个团队的努力而得到表扬时，不要忘了将荣誉归功于团队。

当我们说一个事物complement另一个事物时，意思就是说，这两个分开的事物合在一起看起来更好：它们对于加强或改善整体效果都起到了作用。下面的句子都正确地使用了动词complement。

The recipe was delicious and the wine complemented the food beautifully.
菜很好吃，红酒和食物也很配。

Architect Graham Morrison said the new development would complement the city centre’s existing historical features but not overwhelm them.
建筑师格拉曼莫里森说过，新的发展会使市中心现存的历史特色得到润色，而不是打击。

Cordelia was wearing a particularly flattering blue dress that complemented her complexion.
克迪莉娅穿了一件非常漂亮的蓝色裙子，很衬她的肤色。

This new service is intended to complement existing facilities.
这项新服务旨在完善现有的设备。

Each of the three Russian canvases is complemented by pictures on the same theme by one or more of the other artists.
这三个俄罗斯的画板上都搭配了相同主题的图画，由一个或以上的艺术家完成。

complement和complete一词有关联，这个联系能够帮助你记住哪个是动词。如果你想表达completion的意思，即两件事物结合在一起，产生好的总体效果，就选择拼写中含-e的动词：complememnt。

怎么区分complimentary和complementary？

毫无疑问，与compliment、complement有关的形容词也会让人弄混。complimentary有两个意思，它有“表达钦佩或赞赏”的例子。

I have received many complimentary remarks from members of the audience.
我从观众那里得到了很多赞赏。

The vast majority of our patients are extremely complimentary about the care they have received.
大多数病人都对自己受到的照顾十分满意。

它也有“免费赠送”的意思。

Complimentary light refreshments will be available.
有免费的小点心吃。

Most theatres offer complimentary tickets if you review their show for the paper.
如果你再次观看，大多数电影院会免费提供票。

We offer a complimentary shuttle service to the airport and historic old town.
我们免费提供去机场和历史古城的交通服务。

Guestrooms offer complimentary bottled water and fresh fruit daily.
会客室每天都会免费提供瓶装水和新鲜水果。

complementary在这些语境中的使用是很常见的，但也会出现错误的情况。比如，下面的两个句子都使用了错误的拼写方法。

X There will be an opportunity to meet the artists and have a complementary glass of wine.
这是见到那位艺术家，跟他喝杯酒的机会。

X The winner will receive two complementary tickets to a performance of their choice.
胜者能得到两张票，内容自己选。

complementary应该被用来描述被结合起来以增加或突出各自的长处的事物。

They had different but complementary skills.
他们的技能不同，却能互补。

We view this proposal as complementary to existing policing services.
我们认为，这个建议对现有的警务有补充作用。

Interior design and architecture are two complementary professions.
室内设计和建筑是两门互补的专业。

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