词典词条 · 问答

for sure

核心问题

(1)I don't know for sure that he's dead.

(2) I can't tell you for sure.

for sure 意为“肯定”“毫无疑问”,据此我把上面的句子分别译为“我确实不知道他死了”。“我肯定不能告诉你”。不知是否准确?

词典解答

你的两句译文都是错误的。大家知道,actually,definitely,certainlyreally既可位于否定范围之内,也可位于否定范围之外(即不被否定)。但是,for surefor certain 却与它们不同,总是位于否定范围之内(即被否定),并且常常成为否定的焦点:

  1. They don't know for sure (for certain). (CGEL) 他们并不确切知道。

  2. I can't tell you for sure. 我不能确切地告诉你。

  3. He couldn't tell for sure from a distance whether it was George or Tom. (DAI) 距离太远,他未能准确地说出那个人是乔治,还是汤姆。

  4. He didn't know for certain which bus to take. (DAI) 他没有确定究竟是乘哪一部公共汽车。

  5. I can not say for certain when he will arrive. (ALD) 我不能准确地说出他将何时到达。

来源:英语常见问题解答大词典-8.md · 第 58655884 行 · 原文哈希 e2f9eb6f34