I’m at my wit’s end to keep this child quiet. (phrase. ) 我实在是没办法让孩子安静下来。
•英语中有很多词虽然是以肯定形式出现，但本身却含 有否定意义，如beyond, absent, stop, bad, avoid, except, doubt, resistant, refuse, few, little等等。这类词在翻译中 要译出它含有的否定意义。
Keep off the lawn! 请勿践踏草地！
I couldn’t agree more with you. 我完全同意你的看法。
He was the last man to say such things. 他绝不会说出这样的话。
• 今天讨论的主要指带有否定词的正反翻译。英 语中含有no，not，never，none，un-，-less， im-，in-，ir-等成分的词句，都被视为否定表达， 简称反说。相反，英语中不含这些成分的词句称
His speech leaves much to be desired. (phrase. )
他的讲话很不尽如人意。
The guerrillas would fight to death before they surrender. (conj. ) 游击队员们宁愿战死也决不投降。
The lecturer spoke above the heads of his audience. (prep. ) 讲演者讲得太深奥，听众听不懂。
The significance of these incidents wasn’t lost on us. 这件事引起了我们的重视。 Hitler’s undisguised effort to persecute the Jews met with world-wide condemnation.
3. Same English Wording, Either Affirmative or Negative in Chinese (正反译均可)
He is free with his money. 他花钱大手大脚。 他花钱从不吝啬。
The station is no distance at all. 车站近在咫尺。 车站一点也不远。
No deposit will be refunded unless ticket produced. 凭票退还押金。
Don’t lose time in posting this letter. 赶快把这封信寄出去。
We must never stop taking an optimistic view of life. 我们对生活要永远抱乐观态度。
1. Full negatives no, not ,none, never, nothing, nobody, nowhere, nor…
2. Semi negatives hardly, scarcely, seldom, barely, few, little… 3. Partial negatives not every, not all, not both, not much, not many, not always… 4. Words with negative implication fail, without, beyond, lest, ignorant, refuse, neglect, absence, refrain, instead of, except, rather than…
希特勒对犹太人的露骨的迫害行为受到全世界的谴责。
Mr. Rumsfield said the Soviet Union was unprecedentedly engaged in a missile-building program. 拉姆斯菲尔德说，苏联正在以空前的规模推行
制造导弹的计划。
Many agreed that the Prime Minister had in effect resigned dishonorably. 许多人认为首相辞职实际上是很丢面子的。
He can’t see you quick enough. 他很想尽快和你见面。
6. Some traps in negative structures (否定的陷阱) Now and then some negative structures with an elusive idea can hardly be rendered into Chinese literally. This is where we are liable to stumble into translation traps. The following are some typical patterns that call for attention. (1) not…because
今天，我们生活中的方方面面无不受到因特网的影响。
5. Roundabout Affirmative (貌似否定的迂回式肯定) This is an indirect way of expressing a strong affirmative, and when translated into Chinese, the emotion of the original should be properly kept.
The window refuses to open. 窗户打不开。 Children were excluded from getting in the building. 孩子不许进入这栋楼房。 Such a chance denied me. 我没有得到这个机会。
The explanation is pretty thin. 这个解释站不住脚。
The doubt was still unsolved after his repeated explanation. 经他一再解释，疑团仍然存在。
The thought of returning to his native land never
deserted him. 归国的念头始终萦绕在他的心中。
It is no less than a fraud. 这简直是一场骗局。 这无异于一场骗局。
The works of art were left intact, the money gone. 艺术品还在，钱却不翼而飞。 艺术品原封未动，钱却不翼而飞。
4. Double Negative for Emphasis (双重否定的翻译)
Double negative in English, as in Chinese, is used for emphasis. In translating such a structure we may either drop both the negative words, or keep the original structure, depending on which is more idiomatic in Chinese.
Time is what we want most, but, what, alas, many use worst. (adv. ) 时间是我们最缺少的，但可叹之至，偏偏许多人最不 善于利用。
I have read your article. I expected to meet an older man. (adv. ) 拜读了你的大作，没想到你这样年轻。
翻译技巧之————
英-汉否定结构的翻译 方法——正反转换法：
Conversion between Affirmative and Negative
hunger march 反饥饿游行
terror war dust mask riot police
反恐战争 防尘面罩 防暴警察
crisis law 反危机法案 Keep in lane！ 不准变线！
I have fallen behind with my correspondence. 我有一些信件没有及时答复。
Fully clothed, he fell across his bunk and was instantly asleep他. 衣服也不脱往床铺上横着一躺，很快就睡着了。
He was 75, but he carried his years lightly. 他75岁了，可是并不显老。 It was beyond his power to sign such a contract. 他无权签订这种合同。
The engine didn’t stop because the fuel was finished. 引擎并不是因为燃料耗尽而停止运转。
Gates didn’t drop out because he wanted to avoid work but to start his company. 盖茨辍学不是想逃避学业，而是为了开办自己的公司。 Don’t scamp your work because you are pressed for time.
There is no rule that has no exception. 任何规则都不无例外。/任何规则都有例外。
There is not any advantage without disadvantage. 有一利必有一弊。 Today, there is scarcely an aspect of our life that isn’t being affected by the Internet.
He didn’t half like the girl. 他非常喜欢那姑娘。 I couldn’t feel better. 我觉得身体好极了。 I couldn’t agree with you more. 我太赞成你的看法了。