complex

　　complicated

　　intricate

　　sophisticated

　　这组形容词都可表示“复杂的”的意思。

　　complex 指某物与许多部分组成，内在关系、内在结构复杂，需要深入研究才能认识。

　　1) Unfortunately, such complex encryption codes are likely to undermine the principal virtue of electronic mail: its convenience. (不幸的是,这种复杂的加密编码可能会电子邮件主要优点:便利。)

　　2) Refining petroleum is a very complex process and needs lots of facilities and operations. （石油炼制是一种非常复杂的过程,需要大量的设备和操作。）

　　complicated 侧重指事物错综复杂，很难搞清楚。语气比complex强，复杂程度更大。

　　1）With the introduction of the electronic computer, there is no complicated problems that can not be solved quickly. （运用电子计算机,没有复杂的问题不能得以迅速解决。）

　　2）The problem we are now confronted with is far more complicated than we originally anticipated. （我们现在正面临的问题比我们原先预想的复杂得多。）

　　intricate 语气最强，指许多关系、部分相互缠绕、纵横交错、使人迷惑不解。

　　1) He told me the story but I could not understand all the intricate directions within it. （他把故事讲给诉我听,但是里面错综复杂的情节我也搞不明白。）

　　2) This intricate web of interactions is vital to the maintenance of soil, air and water quality. （这相互作用错综复杂的关心网对于维持土壤、空气和水的质量至关重要的。）

　　sophisticated 指事物发展到或到达高级程度所表现的复杂，尤指高级、精确、尖端的技术发展的复杂，一般人难以理解明白。

　　1) Underlying the future of the manufacturing environment of tomorrow are the sophisticated technologies being developed in industrial and university research laboratories. （未来制造业的环境取决于工业和大学研究实验室里正在开发研究的尖端技术。）

　　2) In recent years there has been a noticeable increase in sophisticated financial fraud. （近年来复杂的金融欺诈有了显著的增加。）