“by contrast”是英语中表示对比关系的核心短语,用来强调两个事物、情况或观点之间的鲜明差异,相当于“相比之下”“与之相反”“反过来”。
通过“对比”这一逻辑,突出前后内容的对立或反差(如性格、结果、特征等的不同)。
“by contrast”的灵活性强,可置于句首、句中或句末,但需注意标点搭配(通常用逗号分隔)。以下是常见用法:
直接引出对比的内容,后面接完整句子,逗号隔开。
She is very talkative. By contrast, her sister rarely says a word.
(她很健谈。相比之下,她妹妹几乎不说话。)
The first experiment failed completely. By contrast, the second one was a huge success.
(第一个实验彻底失败了。相比之下,第二个大获成功。)
插入句子中间,连接两个对比的部分,强化差异。
The old apartment was tiny and dark; the new one, by contrast, is bright and spacious.
(旧公寓又小又暗;而新公寓,相比之下,明亮又宽敞。)
He spends all his money on clothes; his brother, by contrast, saves every penny.
(他把钱全花在衣服上;他弟弟则相反,每一分钱都存起来。)
用在句尾,补充对比内容(较少见,但符合语法)。
I love winter sports. My best friend hates them, by contrast.
(我喜欢冬季运动。相比之下,我最好的朋友讨厌它们。)
需注意“by contrast”与“in contrast (with/to)”的细微差异:
by contrast:更强调“通过对比这种方式”,直接引出对比的句子(不接名词/代词);
in contrast with/to:需接具体的比较对象(名词/代词),如:
In contrast with the rainy weather yesterday, today is sunny.(与昨天的雨天相反,今天是晴天。)
“by contrast”的核心是“转折+对比”,用在需要突出“差异”的语境中,帮助读者/听者快速抓住两个事物的对立点。只要明确前后内容的反差,就能自然运用!
小练习:用“by contrast”完成句子1、 The city is noisy and crowded. ______, the countryside is quiet and peaceful.
2、 She studies hard every day. Her roommate, ______, never opens a book.
(答案:1. By contrast 2. by contrast)