▲若表示“喝醉的”，drunk 主要用作表语，而 drunken 主要用作定语。如：

(1) drunk 的例子：

It would appear that the driver of the car was drunk. 这辆车的司机似乎是喝醉了。

He came home after midnight, and what’s more, he was drunk. 他半夜过后才回家，而且喝醉了。

Sorry I made such a fool of myself last night. I must have been drunk. 对不起，我昨晚真是出丑了，我一定是喝醉了。

(2) drunken 的例子：

He defended me from a drunken man. 他保护我免受醉汉伤害。

How do you deal with a drunken husband? 你如何对付喝醉酒的丈夫。

The game was marred by the behaviour of drunken fans. 喝醉了的球迷行为不轨，把比赛给搅了。

Nurses often have to contend with violent or drunken patients. 护士经常不得不对付粗暴的或喝醉酒的病人。

▲除表示“喝醉的”外，drunken 还可表示喝醉酒后的行为或表现，也是用作定语。如：

a drunken argument, fury, stupor, sleep 酒后的争吵、狂暴、昏迷、沉睡

He pleaded innocent to drunken driving charges. 他辩驳说自己没有酒后驾车。

His drunken behaviour was extremely objectionable. 他醉后的举动极为讨厌。

▲例外：用于表示“醉酒驾驶”之类的意思时，用两者均可。如：

I have to appear in court on a charge of drunken / drunk driving. 我被控告醉酒驾驶而要出庭受审。

Every year at Christmas drunken / drunk driving takes its toll. 每年的圣诞节都有醉酒驾车的伤亡事故。

Drunken / Drunk drivers pose a serious threat (= cause a lot of harm) to other road users. 酒后驾车者对其他路人构成了严重威胁。