“双重否定就是在一个句子中同时使用两个否定词，或者使用一个否定词和一个含有否定意义的词或短语。”(陈宏薇，1998:223)双重否定的句子，实际上表达肯定的意义。与一般肯定句不同的是，双重否定句感情色彩更加浓厚，肯定的语势更加强烈。汉译英时，我们往往保留双重否定的形式。
(17) 子曰：“不患人之不己知，患不知人也。”
The Master said, ( the good man) does not grieve that other people do not recognize his merits. His only anxiety is lest he should fail to recognize theirs.
(孔子《论语》，Arthur Waley译)
(18) 名不正则言不顺，言不顺则事不成，……
If language is incorrect, then what is said does not concord with what was meant; and if what is said does not concord with what was meant, what is to be done cannot be effected.
(孔子《论语》，Arthur Waley译)
(19) 我想：希望本无所谓有，无所谓无。
I thought: hope cannot be said to exist, nor can it be said not to exist.
以上例句的原文含双重否定，译文也同样采用双重否定的句式。
(20) 不看秦始皇兵马俑，不算真正到过中国。
a. A traveler who has not seen the Qin Dynasty terra cotta figures cannot claim to have visited China.
b. No one who has not seen the Qin Dynasty terra cotta figures can claim to have visited China.
两个译文都保留了双重否定的形式。译文a中的第一层否定放在定语从句的谓语部分(has not seen)，而译文b的第一层否定放在了主语部分(No one who ...)。两个译文都不错，但译文b的语势似乎更强。
