翻译辨析:begin 可以强调否定?

英语作文    发布时间:2024-06-21  
划词翻译

原 文:

You don't begin to understand what they mean.

原 译:

你没有开始知道他们的意思。


辨 析:

原译错在没有弄清begin一词在原句中的含义。Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English的begin词条下单独列有一项释义:can't begin to understand / imagine etc spoken used to emphasize how difficult something is to understand etc.说明begin用于强调「不易」。《英华大词典》也把not begin to (do)列为短语,解释为「决不,完全不」,如: It does not begin to meet the specification.(这完全不合规格。)可见,begin是用以强调否定的。请注意下列各句的翻译:

  • (1)He can't begin to compete with you. 他根本没法和你竞争。

  • (2)His statement does not begin to be comprehensive enough. 他的说法远谈不上全面。

  • (3)You don't begin to understand what I have suffered. 你压根儿不理解我受了多少苦。

  • (4)Nothing has begun to interest her so much as folk music. 什么也比不上民间音乐那样让她动心。

  • (5)I can't begin to thank you. 真是感激不尽!


除了begin之外,(not) at all以及许多表示「微量」和「诅咒」的词也常用于强调否定语气


原句可译为:你一点儿也不/根本不明白他们的意思。