“否定”的翻译 (3)

这篇我们继续探讨不用否定词表否定的方法(即形式上肯定,意义上否定),例句来源于网络,童鞋们也可以自己造,印象更深刻~

3,but 类

① but for+名词和but that+从句(译为”要不是,如果没有”)

如: But for the rain we should have had a pleasant journey.

要不是下雨,我们会有一次愉快的旅行.(记得要用虚拟语气~)

But for your help，I should have failed.或But that you help me,I should have failed.

要不是你帮助，我就会失败。

②Anything but

Anything 等复合代词或复合副词加but,通常表否定之意。

如:I will be anything but quiet on Saturday night!

星期六的晚上我根本静不下心来！

4,from和of类

①Far from(远非,非但)

Far from being relaxed, we both felt so uncomfortable we hardly spoke.

我们两人非但没有放松，反而都感觉很不自在，几乎没有说话。

②So far from(非但不…反而)

So far from admitting his own mistake, he falsely accused his critic.

他非但不认错, 还倒打一耙.

③So far be it from me(我决不愿…)

Far be it from me to betray a friendship I hold so sacred.

我决不愿欺骗我认为神圣的友谊.

④Instead of

Instead of complaining about what's wrong, be grateful for what's right.

别抱怨不好的事，要对好的事心存感恩。

⑤Free from(没有…的,不受…影响的)

He is free from prejudice to everybody.

他对所有的人都不带有任何成见.

5 ,介词

一些介词表抽象概念时,也可译为否定。

①Above,表能力品质超出某种范围

②Below /beneath(与…不相称,不值得)

③Beyond(表示不可能;为…所不及;)

④Under(未达到,未满足)

⑤Within(不超过,不出)

如: He's above suspicion (= He is completely trusted) . 他无可置疑。

He considers such jobs beneath him.

他觉得这种工作有失他的身份。(即”和他的身份不相称”)

The situation is beyond our control.

我们已无法控制这一局面。

Nobody under 18 is allowed to buy alcohol.

未满18岁者不得买酒。

a house within a mile of the station

离车站不到一英里的一所房子

6,the last(最不…的)

He would be the last person who would do such a thing. 他最不可能干这种事情。

以上我们总结了一些形式上肯定但意思上否定的表达,但英语中还有一类词,虽然形式上是否定的,在意义上却是肯定的,比如以下句子：

1,We cannot too strongly urge upon you the importance of this matter.

对此事,我们无论怎样向你强调其重要性都不会过分.

(cannot …too/can never…too/can hardly…too通常译为”再…也不为过”) ：这一结构的实质是：过分否定，导致肯定。因而此结构中的can’t可改用impossible，not可采用其变体never，hardly等,因此上句也可改写为

We are impossible too strongly urge upon you the importance of this matter.

2, I can never thank you enough for your generosity.

对您的慷慨大度我永远感谢不尽.

(can never do enugh也有”在…也不为过”的意思)

3, can’t help doing表示”禁不住做某事”时,也可看作是”形否意肯”

I can't help feeling sorry for the poor man.

我不禁为这个可怜的男人感到难过。

l此外,还有can’t help but… 意为”必须,只好”

When our country calls us for help, we can't help but go.

当祖国需要我们时, 我们必须尽力.

4, “ no, none, nothing + but/like”意为“只有”、“只”、“不过”等。“ nothing short of有“简直可以说”的意思。

例如：

The results are nothing short of magnificent.

结果非常不错。

All that money brought nothing but sadness and misery and tragedy.

那笔钱带来的只有伤心、痛苦和悲剧。

There is nothing like jogging as a means of exercise.

锻炼身体的最好办法是慢跑。