3．1．6 Connotative Negation内涵否定的翻译
3．1．6 Connotative Negation内涵否定的翻译
In English，although there are a lot of words，phrases and structures which have no negative words like no or not，even some prefixes and suffixes with negative meaning such as un-，non-，in-，an-，dis-or -less，they are still negative in meaning．There are also some English words or phrases，remaining negative，though they have no negative affixations or words，such as fail，refuse，free from，etc．This kind of construction or situation is called connotative negation．It is very important for us to be familiar with connotative negation while we translate them．We should know the following common words and structures．
3．1．6．1 Some words and phrases含有否定意义词语的翻译
1)Some common verbs: fail，neglect，exclude，overlook，miss，deny，ignore，refuse，lack，keep/prevent/protect…from，etc．
The tool will fail to cut effectively as it becomes too worn．
刀具过度磨损，就不能有效地进行切削了。
Painting is the most common way to protect metals from corrosion．
涂漆是使金属免受腐蚀的最通用方法。
I doubt his honesty．
我不相信他的诚意。
2)Some common nouns: absence，ignorance，exclusion，a fool to，etc．
A vacuum，which is the absence of matter，cannot transmit sound．
真空中没有物质，不能传播声音。
This book is a fool to that both in plot and execution．
这本书无论在情节上还是在写作技巧上，都比不上那本书。
3)Some common adjectives: the last，the least，few，little，short of，free of/ from，safe from，far from，etc．
Little is known at present about this oil field．
目前对此油田的情况几乎一无所知。
It is very important that a drawing be free from ambiguities and be subject only to a single interpretation．
图纸不应有模棱两可的地方，而只能有一种解释，这是很重要的。
He is the last man to accept a bribe．
他绝不是受贿赂的人。
4)Some common adverbs: vainly，hardly，scarcely，in vain，etc．
The speed of the satellite hardly changes at all．
这个卫星的速度几乎没有任何变化。
We tried to persuade him to give up the attempt，but in vain．
我们曾劝他放弃这种打算，但是没用。
5)Some common conjunctions: than，more…than，rather…than，but，but that，before，unless，lest，since，etc．
But that you had helped us，we should have failed．
假如你们不帮助我们，我们早就失败了。
You cannot see any object unless light from that object gets into your eyes．
如果来自物体的光线不进入眼帘，你就什么也看不见。
Before I could protest，he got to his feet．
我还没来得及抗议，他已经站了起来。
It is already three years since he was a teacher．
他不当教师已经三年了。
That＇s more than I can do．
我干不了那事。
I＇d rather have tea than coffee．
我宁愿喝茶而不愿喝咖啡。
6)Some prepositions:above，beyond，off，against，past，below，beneath，behind，minus，within，instead of，but for，in place of，in defect of，in default of，out of，at issue with，etc．
Instead of the decimal numbering system，the computer uses the binary system．
计算机不用十进位制，而用二进位制。
I used artificial flowers in defect of real ones．
没有真花，我就用了假花。
But for instruments and equipment，the modern marine scientist would be helpless．
假如没有仪器和设备，现代海洋科学家就会一筹莫展。
It is anything but the last word in medical science．
这些东西绝不是医学中的最新成果。
I was past caring now，so I ordered coffee for myself and an ice-cream and coffee for her．
我现在什么都不在乎了。我为自己点了咖啡，为她点了一杯咖啡冰激凌。
What you said is beyond my ken．
你的话我不懂。
His conduct is above reproach．
他的行为无可指责。
Comments The words and phrases mentioned above are just some of the vocabulary in English having connotative negation．We simply collect them one by one in learning，keep them in mind in usage，and only thus can we translate them correctly．
3．1．6．2 Some sentence structures句子结构的否定翻译
1)It is…that / who…
It is a silly fish that is caught twice．
再蠢的鱼也不会上钩两次。
It is a wise father that knows his own child．
父亲再聪明也不见得了解自己的孩子。
It is a good divine that follows his own instructions．
善言者未必能行。
It is a good dog that can catch anything．
什么东西都能抓的狗是不存在的。
It is a good goose that is always dropping．
世间没有连续下蛋的鹅。(劝人不要过多地向朋友讨东西。)
2)Some rhetorical questions on special occasions
Am I your slave?
我才不是你的奴隶呢。
Who knows?
谁都不知道。
What is the good of asking a favor of her?
去求那个女人是没有用的。
3)Some conditional sentences without main clauses
If only he did drive so fast!
他别把车开得那么快就好了。
I am sure!If this is English manners!
我确信这绝不是英国人的礼貌行为。
Mercy!If ever I heard the like from a lady．
天哪!一位小姐说出这样的话来，真没听说过。
4)“More…than…” construction plus subordinate clause with the word“can”
That is more than I can do．
那是我办不到的。
The beauty of Hangzhou is more than I can describe．
杭州景色之美，无法用言语描述。
He has bitten off more than he can chew．
他承担了力所不及的事。
5)Too + adjectives + to
The patient is too weak to be operated on．
病人太虚弱了，不能手术。
He was too tired to go any further．
他累得再也走不动了。
He was too careful a scientist to rush into publication．
他是一位非常谨慎的科学家，并不急于发表著作。
Comments As for the structures with connotative negation，there is no special way to follow．They are special expressions in English，which are quite different from Chinese．The best way is to learn them by heart．