praise

Compared meaning: to express strong approval of someone or something (verb).

比较义项：赞扬，称赞（动词）。

• praise 本词

  The common, neutral word for expressing approval; used in everyday contexts about people's efforts, work or behavior, often with 'for'.

  表示赞赏的最普通、中性的词；常用于日常语境中谈论人的努力、工作或行为，常与介词 for 连用。

  Her manager praised her for finishing the project ahead of schedule.

  她的经理称赞她提前完成了项目。

• extol

  A stronger, more formal word meaning to praise enthusiastically and at length; often used for qualities, benefits, or virtues rather than a single action.

  语气更强、更正式，指热情而详细地称颂；常用于称颂某种品质、好处或美德，而不是某一次具体的行为。

  The article extols the health benefits of a plant-based diet.

  这篇文章大力颂扬了植物性饮食对健康的好处。

Both verbs mean to express approval, with different strength. Praise is the common, neutral word for everyday approval of people's efforts or work. Extol is stronger and more formal, meaning to praise enthusiastically and at length, often about qualities or benefits.

两词都表示对人或事物表达赞赏，但语气强弱不同：extol 语气更强、更正式，常用于公开或热情地大力称颂；praise 是最普通的日常用词，语气中性。这里不比较 praise 的其他用法（如宗教语境中的“赞美，颂扬上帝”这一更庄重的固定搭配）。

Compared meaning: words of approval or celebration for someone (noun).

比较义项：对某人的成就、努力或喜事表示赞赏、祝贺的话语（名词）。

• praise 本词

  General noun for words expressing approval or admiration of someone's ability, effort, or quality; not tied to one specific event; suits both formal and everyday contexts; typically used with 'give' or 'receive'.

  泛指对某人能力、努力或品质表示认可或赞赏的话语；不一定与某一具体事件相关；既可用于正式场合，也可用于日常场合；常与 give 或 receive 搭配使用。

  The coach's praise for her discipline meant more to her than winning the match.

  教练对她自律精神的赞美，对她来说比赢得比赛更有意义。

• congratulations

  Always plural in form; used specifically to celebrate someone's success or happy news, such as a promotion or wedding; often said directly to the person as an exclamation, not as an ongoing assessment of quality.

  始终以复数形式出现；专门用于庆祝某人的成功或喜事，例如升职或婚礼；常直接对本人说出，作为一句感叹语，而不是对其能力或品质的持续评价。

  Congratulations on your promotion — you really deserve it!

  祝贺你升职了——你真的当之无愧！

• kudos

  Informal, uncountable noun stressing admiration for one specific achievement; common in casual or workplace speech, rarely used in formal writing; typically follows 'get' or 'receive'.

  非正式的不可数名词，强调因某一具体成就而获得的赞誉；常见于口语或职场交流中，较少用于正式书面语；常与 get 或 receive 搭配使用。

  She got kudos from her boss for spotting the error before launch.

  她因在发布前发现了那个错误而受到老板的赞扬。

All three nouns give positive words to someone. Praise: general approval of ability or effort, not tied to one event. Congratulations (always plural): celebrates a specific success or happy news, said directly to the person. Kudos: informal admiration for one achievement, common in casual speech.

这三个词都可指对他人表现出的正面评价或祝贺语，但语气和使用场合不同：praise 泛指对能力、努力或品质的赞美，不一定与具体喜事或成就相关；congratulations 专门用于庆祝某人的具体成功或喜事，且总是复数形式；kudos 语气较随意，强调因某一具体成就而获得的赞誉，多用于口语或非正式场合。