The last section of the letter is the complimentary closing.
[原译]信的最后部分是补充结尾词。（《英汉对照现代商业书信指南》，安徽科技出版社，1990） the complimentary closing 是指“补充结尾词”吗？
complement 与 compliment 发音相同,词形近似,很容易弄错。它们的形容词分别为 complementary 和 complimentary。应记住 complement 的意思是“补充”,“补充物”:
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Travel can be an excellent complement to one's education. (FWF) 旅游对于一个人的教育是一个很好的补充。
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Wine is the complement to a good dinner. (MED) 酒是美餐的补充物/佳肴还需配美酒。compliment 的意思是“赞扬”“赞美之词”：
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She received many compliments on her cooking. (MD) 她听到许多对她烹调的赞美之词。
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She took the remark as a compliment to her cooking. (Wood) 她把这话看作是对她的烹调的赞扬。
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The new ambassador paid compliments to the king. (ALD) 新大使向国王致意。
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She accepted his compliment about her dress with a smile. (ECD) 她以微笑接受他对她服装的赞美。
形容词 complementary 的意思是：“补充的”“补足的”“互补的”，而形容词 complimentary 的意思是：“祝贺的”“恭维的”“赞美的”，如 a complimentary address(祝词,颂词)。上面原文中的 the complimentary closing 是指信件中表示敬意的结尾客套语，如 Yours faithfully 等(见 Yours)。
请做下面的英语试题：
- He paid her a ____ by saying her cake was the best he had ever eaten.
A. proposal B. compliment C. gratitude D. satisfaction (TOEFL)
- He's the kind of man who's fond of ____ compliments to other men's wives.
A. paying B. saying C. expressing D. showing(Nelson, 500C)