1) 中国人一看见 don't,很容易马上想到这是叫对方“别做某事”(dos and don'ts 就是该做什么不该做什么的“须知”)。但其实有时候 don't 是指自己,略去了前面的主语 I。
- Don't believe so. (= I don't believe so.)我看不是这样。
- No, don't think so. (= No, I don't think so.)我看不会的。
- Don't believe I've had the pleasure.我觉得咱们是第一次见面吧(直译是:我不觉得我曾经有幸(见过您))。
- —Have some more coffee?
—Don't mind if I do. (= I don't mind if I do.)
—再喝点咖啡好吗?
—再要点也好。
而 Don't bother 是叫对方“别白费力气了”。
- —Do you want me to save this spoonful of mashed potatoes?
—Don't bother.
—你要我把这一勺土豆泥留下来吗?
—别费这个劲了。
Don't bother me. 是叫对方“别打扰我”。
- Don't bother me. I'm busy. Can't you see?别打扰我。我忙着呢。你没看见吗?
但是 Don't bother me none. 则是 It don't bother me none 省略了开头的 it. (这本来是不符合语法的,按照语法 don't 应该是 doesn't),也可以说 (It) don't make me no nevermind。意思是“我无所谓”(这是美国南卡罗来纳州的方言)。
- —Mind if I sit here?
—It don't bother me none.
—我可以坐在这里吗? - —我无所谓。
- —Can I smoke?
—Don't bother me none.
—我可以吸烟吗?
—我无所谓。
2) 从上面可以看到,don't 在不正式的英语中有时候代替第三人称单数的 doesn't。甚至一些有名的作家也这样用。
- But never mind:—'God save the king!' and kings!
- For if he don't, I doubt if men will longer. (Lord Byron, Don Juan, Canto viii)但是不要紧的:—“上帝佑我王!”佑所有的王!因为如果上帝不佑,恐怕凡人佑不了多久(按:拜伦在 Don Juan 中一律用 don't 代替 doesn't)。
- However, it don't matter if you've read the play. (George Bernard Shaw, Letter, Dec. 24, 1897)不过,只要你看过剧本,那就不要紧了。
Don't do anything I wouldn't do. 字面上是“凡是我不做的事情你就别做”。但是其实是两个深交的朋友分别时的用语,相当于“再见”或“保重”。
Don't you know it! 这不是个问句,也不是个否定句。意思是“你说得对”。
- —This is the best cake I have ever eaten. The cook is the best in the world!
—Don't you know it!
—这样好的蛋糕我从来没吃过。那位大师傅是全世界最了不起的!
—你说得对呀!