To counterbalance something is to have an equal and opposite effect on it, so the two sit more even. Picture an old pair of scales: if one side is heavy, you put weight on the other side. Extra savings can counterbalance extra spending. A joy can counterbalance a fear.

To counterbalance something抵銷、平衡某樣東西 is to have an equal and opposite effect on it就是對它產生一個大小相等、方向相反的作用, so the two sit more even讓兩邊變得更平衡. Picture an old pair of scales想像一組老式的天秤: if one side is heavy如果一邊比較重, you put weight on the other side你就在另一邊加上重量. Extra savings can counterbalance extra spending多存的錢可以抵銷多花的錢. A joy can counterbalance a fear一份喜悅也可以抵銷一份恐懼.

As a noun, a counterbalance is that other weight, or that other force — sometimes a real metal weight on a machine, sometimes a person or a rule that keeps power from leaning too far one way. Used about feelings, money, power, and real weights.

As a noun當名詞用的時候, a counterbalancecounterbalance is that other weight, or that other force指的就是那個另外的重量或另一股力量 — sometimes a real metal weight on a machine有時候是機器上真正的金屬配重, sometimes a person or a rule that keeps power from leaning too far one way有時候是一個人或一項防止權力偏向一邊太多的規則. Used about feelings, money, power, and real weights可以用在感受、金錢、權力，還有真正的重量上.

A little more formal than “make up for.” Though actually, life is rarely that even. People still use the word when the second thing only partly makes up for the first; the tidy “equal” is the dictionary’s hope more than everyday fact.

A little more formal than比稍微正式一點 "make up for"「make up for（彌補）」. Though actually不過其實, life is rarely that even現實生活很少那麼剛好平衡. People still use the word就算大家還是會用這個字 when the second thing only partly makes up for the first第二件事只是部分彌補了第一件事的時候; the tidy "equal" is the dictionary's hope more than everyday fact那種整整齊齊的「相等」比較是字典的理想而不是日常的事實.

Verb and noun.

Verb and noun動詞和名詞都可以用.