“by contrast with”是一个用于对比两个事物差异的英语短语,核心含义是:与……相比;与……形成对照。它强调通过对比突出两者之间的不同特征,常用于明确区分两个对象的属性、状态或情况。
“by contrast with” 中的 “contrast” 表示“对比、反差”,“by” 在这里引出“通过对比”的方式,“with” 连接被对比的对象(即用作参照的另一方)。整体表达“以……为参照进行对比”,突出主句所述对象与参照对象的差异。
1、 后接名词/代词/名词性结构:
作为介词短语,“by contrast with” 后面需接名词、代词或名词性从句(如what从句),作“对比的参照对象”。
示例:
By contrast with his sister (参照对象), he is extremely shy (主句对象的特征).
(与他姐姐相比,他非常害羞。)
The new apartment, by contrast with the old one, has a larger living room.
(与旧公寓相比,新公寓的客厅更大。)
By contrast with what I expected (名词性从句), the movie was boring.
(与我的预期相反,这部电影很无聊。)
2、 位置灵活:
可置于句首(强调对比)或句中(插入说明对比关系):
By contrast with the noisy city, the countryside is peaceful. (句首,突出城乡对比)
She is very organized, by contrast with her messy roommate. (句中,补充对比室友的状态)
3、 与“in contrast with/to”的区别:
两者含义相近(均表示“与……对比”),但“by contrast with”更强调“通过对比这一方式”,而“in contrast with/to”更侧重“在对比中呈现差异”。日常使用中两者可互换,但“by contrast with”更正式一些。
对比人物特征:
By contrast with his father (严肃), he has a great sense of humor (幽默).
(与父亲相比,他很有幽默感。)
对比事物状态:
By contrast with last year’s drought (干旱), this year’s harvest is excellent (丰收).
(与去年的干旱相比,今年的收成很好。)
对比观点/结果:
By contrast with the optimistic forecast (乐观预测), the actual sales were disappointing (令人失望).
(与乐观的预测相反,实际销量很糟糕。)
“by contrast with” 后面不能直接接完整句子(需用名词性结构代替):
✖️ By contrast with he is tall, his brother is short.
✔️ By contrast with his tall brother, he is short.
(或 By contrast with the fact that he is tall, his brother is short.)
总之,“by contrast with” 是一个清晰表达对比关系的短语,通过明确参照对象,帮助读者/听者快速抓住两个事物的差异。