中译英技巧-否定句翻译

1、否定句翻译译汉语汉语否定谓语谓语，英译时译时否定主语语物质质必须运动须运动，否则则就没没有做功。Matter must move, or no work is done.如果没没有太阳阳，什么么都不能生存。Without the sun, nothing could live. 这这里周围围，无论论是苍蝇还苍蝇还是蚊子，一只也找不到。 Not a fly nor a mosquito was found around here. 在这这些电电路中没没有发现发现任何缺陷。 No defects have been found in these circuits.谓语谓语否定转转移至状语状语否定中

2、国在任何时间和任何情况下都不会首先使用中国在任何时间和任何情况下都不会首先使用核武器。核武器。At no time and under no circumstances At no time and under no circumstances will China be the first to use nuclear will China be the first to use nuclear weapons.weapons.状语状语否定转转移至谓语谓语4.4. 有时孩子们下棋并不全是为了娱乐。有时孩子们下棋并不全是为了娱乐。Sometimes the children dont play

3、 Sometimes the children dont play chess for amusement.chess for amusement.在含目的状语的否定句中，有时在含目的状语的否定句中，有时not not 并不并不否定其后的动词，而是否定句中的目的否定其后的动词，而是否定句中的目的状语状语延续否定延续否定 从前线回来的人说起白求恩，没有一个从前线回来的人说起白求恩，没有一个不佩服，没有一个不为他的精神所感不佩服，没有一个不为他的精神所感动。动。 No one who returned from the front No one who returned from the fron

4、t failed to express admiration for failed to express admiration for Bethune whenever his name was Bethune whenever his name was mentioned, and none remained mentioned, and none remained unmoved by his action.unmoved by his action. 这头大象不像一堵墙，不像长矛，不像这头大象不像一堵墙，不像长矛，不像蛇，不像树也不像扇子。蛇，不像树也不像扇子。 The elephant

5、 isnt like a wall or The elephant isnt like a wall or a spear, or a snake, or a tree, a spear, or a snake, or a tree, neither is he like a fan.neither is he like a fan. 解放前，他是个赶大车的，连自己的生解放前，他是个赶大车的，连自己的生活都难以维持，更不用说养家了。活都难以维持，更不用说养家了。 Before liberation he was a cart-Before liberation he was a cart-dr

6、iver who could hardly keep body driver who could hardly keep body and soul together, let alone and soul together, let alone support his family.support his family. 那时，我们连电脑都没有，更不用说电那时，我们连电脑都没有，更不用说电子邮件和因特网了。子邮件和因特网了。 At that time we didnt have At that time we didnt have computers, to say nothing of e

7、-mail computers, to say nothing of e-mail and internet.and internet.双重否定句 巧妇难为无米之炊。巧妇难为无米之炊。 You cant make something out of You cant make something out of nothing.nothing. 我们学校几乎没有学生不会说英语。我们学校几乎没有学生不会说英语。 Few students in our college cannot speak Few students in our college cannot speak English.Engli

8、sh. 对于会议的结果对于会议的结果, , 我们是有准备的。我们是有准备的。 We are not unprepared for the We are not unprepared for the outcome of the conference.outcome of the conference. 必要时我们定会帮助你。必要时我们定会帮助你。We shall not fail to help you We shall not fail to help you when necessary. when necessary. 汉语汉语肯定形式译译成英语语否定形式 这些细菌要再温度达到一百摄氏度

9、这些细菌要再温度达到一百摄氏度时才会死亡。时才会死亡。 These bacteria will not die These bacteria will not die until the temperature reaches until the temperature reaches 100.100. 所有机器在运转时都要损失能量所有机器在运转时都要损失能量 There is no machine but will There is no machine but will lose energy when in motion.lose energy when in motion.汉语双汉语双

10、重否定英译双译双重否定 没没有足够够的加速度，地球卫卫星是不能进进入太空的。 The earth satellite would not get into space without enough acceleration. 没没有科学学技术术知识识要建设设社会会主义义是不可能的。 Without knowledge of science and technology it is impossible to build socialism.含否定意义义的动词动词 动词动词( (词组词组) : ) : 英语中有不少动词或动词英语中有不少动词或动词词组词组, , 形式肯定形式肯定, ,却暗含否定概

11、念却暗含否定概念, , 所以汉所以汉译时用反译法译成否定句。常见的有译时用反译法译成否定句。常见的有: : fail, forbid, forget, deny, hesitate, fail, forbid, forget, deny, hesitate, lack, wonder, miss, lose, neglect, lack, wonder, miss, lose, neglect, ignore, escape, resist, decline, ignore, escape, resist, decline, doubt, reject, deprive, refrain, d

12、oubt, reject, deprive, refrain, free/keep/save/protect/prevent/stop/ free/keep/save/protect/prevent/stop/ persuade persuade from , from , 那部车无法爬上那个山坡。那部车无法爬上那个山坡。 The car failed to climb the hill.The car failed to climb the hill. 他们不准这陌生人进入室内。他们不准这陌生人进入室内。 They excluded the stranger from They exclud

13、ed the stranger from entering the room.entering the room. 你没有射中靶子。你没有射中靶子。 You have just missed the target.You have just missed the target. 公共场合请勿吐痰。公共场合请勿吐痰。 Please refrain from spitting in the Please refrain from spitting in the public places.public places. 下雨了，他没法出去。下雨了，他没法出去。 Rain prevented him

14、from going out.Rain prevented him from going out. 欺骗与他的本质格格不入。欺骗与他的本质格格不入。 Deception is foreign to his nature.Deception is foreign to his nature. 他所做的事没有达到要求。他所做的事没有达到要求。 What he has done falls short of the What he has done falls short of the requirements. requirements. 含否定意义义的形容词词 形容词形容词( (词组词组) :

15、) : 英语中有不少形容词英语中有不少形容词( (词词组组) , ) , 肯定的形式暗含着否定概念肯定的形式暗含着否定概念, , 汉译汉译时用反译法译成否定句。常见的有时用反译法译成否定句。常见的有absent absent (from ) , empty of, free, far from , (from ) , empty of, free, far from , ignorant of, innocent, different ignorant of, innocent, different (from ) , least, lost, reluctant, (from ) , lea

16、st, lost, reluctant, short of, vacant, hard, devoid of, short of, vacant, hard, devoid of, other than, foreign to other than, foreign to 等。等。 他是个寡言少语的人。他是个寡言少语的人。 He is a man of few words.He is a man of few words. 这地方没有天花和瘟疫。这地方没有天花和瘟疫。 The place is safe from smallpox and The place is safe from smal

17、lpox and plague.plague. 他不懂拉丁文。他不懂拉丁文。 He is quite ignorant of Latin.He is quite ignorant of Latin. 一些固定句型结构一些固定句型结构: 1) : 1) 形容词形容词( (副词副词) ) 的的比较级比较级+ than to do + than to do 结构在某些条件下结构在某些条件下蕴含着一种因果关系。当比较级表示原因蕴含着一种因果关系。当比较级表示原因, , than than 后的不定式表示结果则含有强烈的后的不定式表示结果则含有强烈的否定意思。否定意思。 你英语掌握得这么好你英语掌握得这

18、么好, , 不该犯这样的错误不该犯这样的错误 You have a better command of English You have a better command of English than to make such mistakes. than to make such mistakes. 2) more than+ 2) more than+ 含有含有can can 的从句这种结构的从句这种结构表面是超出限度表面是超出限度, , 实际上是一种力所不实际上是一种力所不能及的否定能及的否定, , 译为译为“不能不能”。那地方景色之美非笔墨所能形容。那地方景色之美非笔墨所能形容。 T

19、he beauty of the place is more than The beauty of the place is more than I can describe. I can describe. 3) be + anything but+ 3) be + anything but+ 名词名词/ /形容词该结形容词该结构是一种语气很强的否定表达方式构是一种语气很强的否定表达方式, , 译译为为“根本不是根本不是”、“一点也不一点也不”。这项任务根本不容易这项任务根本不容易The task was anything but easy. The task was anything bu

20、t easy. 4) 4) 主语主语+ be+ the last+ + be+ the last+ 名词名词+ + 不定式不定式/ /定语定语从句此结构是一种强有力的否定方式从句此结构是一种强有力的否定方式, , 意思意思为为“决不至于决不至于 , , 最不最不( (可能可能) ) 的的”。 我怎么也没料到会在这地方见到你我怎么也没料到会在这地方见到你This is the last place where I expected This is the last place where I expected to meet you. to meet you. 5)5)在在“否定词十否定词十bu

21、t”but”的结构中的结构中, but , but 当当作关系代词用作关系代词用, , 相当于相当于“which/who/that notwhich/who/that not ”, ”, 具有否具有否定含义定含义, , 也构成双重否定句也构成双重否定句 差小多每个星期她都要给父母信。差小多每个星期她都要给父母信。 Scarcely a week passes but she Scarcely a week passes but she writes to her parents.writes to her parents. 6) nothing (nobody, now here, none) 6) nothing (nobody, now here, none) so so butbut 无论无论 只要只要 就就( (便便) ) ; ; 无论多么困难的事无论多么困难的事, , 只要实践便会变得只要实践便会变得容易容易 There is no thing so difficult but There is no thing so difficult but it becomes easy by practice.it becomes easy by practice. 我全然不知道下一步该怎么办。我全然不知道下一步该怎么办。 I am quite at a loss what