Repetition is a usual method during our translation process, which is to repeat the words that appeared in the original sentences, in order to make the meaning more accurate, or aim to further emphasize, and highlighted some of the contents, get better rhetorical effect. Generally speaking, English is often wording simply, try to avoid repetition. Therefore, which often use some other expressions such as alternative, omission or transform and so on.

On the contrary, repetition is a distinctive feature of the Chinese expression. Some words need to be repeated on many occasions, since only to repeat these words, semantics can be clear, the expression can be vivid. In order to achieve the accurate, fluent and completed Chinese translation standards, we often need to repeat some key words.

1. Repetition for nouns

(1).Repeat for object nouns in English

Students must be cultivated to have the ability to analyze and solve problems.

必须培养学生分析问题和解决问题的能力。

They would be very reluctant to postpone or cancel the meeting.

他们不太愿意推迟这个会议或者取消这个会议。

(2) Repeat predicative noun in English

This has been our position—but not theirs.

这一直是我们的立场——而不是他们的立场。

John is your friend as much as he is mine.

约翰既是你的朋友,又是我的朋友。

(3) Repeat omitted nouns before preposition in English

English often reused preposition, and omit the nouns before second, third preposition, but we often repeat these omitted noun when translate.

The doctor will get more practice out of me than out of seventeen hundred ordinary patients.

医生从我身上得到的实践,地比从一千七百个普通病人身上得到的实践还多。

(4) Repeat antecedent noun in the attributive clause

English attributive clause often use relationship words, it represents the antecedent word (usually a noun, noun phrase or pronoun) in attributive clause, on the other hand, which is as an ingredient clause. There are no relation words in Chinese, so we often need to repeat the antecedent noun.

He gave me a book which I kept to this day.

他曾经送给我一本书。这本书我一直保存至今。

Yesterday afternoon, I met an old friend of mine, who said that he would go abroad the next week.

昨天下午,我遇到了一位老朋友。这位老朋友告诉我说他下个星期要出国去。

2. Repetition for verbs

(1) English sentences often use a verb to connect some objects or complements, in translation we tend to repeat the verb

Is he a friend or an enemy?

他是个朋友呢,还是个敌人?

You can do that work very well if you care to.

如果你肯做那项工作,你就能做得更很好。

(2) The prepositions after verbs in English, we often just use preposition and omit verbs in second or third time. In the Chinese translation is to repeat the verb to replace English repeated prepositions

We talked of ourselves, of our prospects, of the journey, of the weather, of each other—of everything.

我们谈到自己,谈到前途,谈到旅程,谈到天气,谈到彼此的情况——谈到所有的一切事情。

Sometimes, in English verb preposition is omitted, but it still can repeat the verb.

Read Also: Preposition and Preposition Phrase Translation