Look at the following sentences:
1. 只要他没有病倒,他是不会不来的。
He will not be absent so long as he is healthy.
He will certainly come unless he is ill.
2. 她可不是说着玩儿的。
She is serious.
She is by no means kidding.
In fact, most sentences can be translated into 2 versions, that is, the positive one and negative one. The two sentences above are the very examples.
The translation of negative sentences is classified into three categories. One is to keep the original expressing way. The second is negative statement, positive translation. The third is positive statement, negative translation. Now let’s have a close study at them.
Read Also: School Translation vs. Professional Translation
a. To keep the original expressing way
1.中国不允许乱。
China will tolerate no disturbances.
2.社会主义的中国谁也动摇不了。
No one can shake Socialist China.
3.中国永远不允许别国干涉内政。
China will never allow other countries to interfere in its internal affairs.
b. Negative statement, positive translation
1. 你知道她为什么老是不想见你么?
Do you know why she is always trying to avoid you?
2. 她丈夫不愿见到她那张毫无表情的脸。
Her husband hates to see her stony face.
3. 他似乎想不出恰当的字眼来阐明自己的观点。
He seemed to be at a loss for the precise words to elaborate his opinion.
4. 请勿大声喧哗。
Keep quiet.
5. 还没到家,她就激动得不得了。
She got extremely excited before she reached her home.
c. Positive statement, negative translation
1. 严禁吸烟。
No smoking.
2. 我们要永远对生活抱乐观态度。
We must never stop taking an optimistic view of life.
3. 到年底再下结论吧。
Don’t make your conclusions before the end of the year.
4. 那个房间的窗门总是关着的。
The windows of that room were never open.
5. 这个小孩现在完全能自己走路了。
The child can walk without any help now.
6. 法律面前,人人平等。
Law is no respecter of persons.
7. 李老师对所有学生都一视同仁。
Mr. Li is no respecter of his students.