Lesson #36 Question

[erok1999]

In the lesson 36 pdf, line 1, it says:
"Konya issho ni eiga o mimasen ka?"
and the pdf interprets it as:
"Shall we see a movie together tonight?"

Isnt mimasen negative? I read that as "You do not want to see a movie together tonight?"
Shouldnt it read 'mimasu' for present positive?

If mimasen is negative, why is it not found in the translation?
Thanks in advance!

[Bueller_007]

In the lesson 36 pdf, line 1, it says:
"Konya issho ni eiga o mimasen ka?"
and the pdf interprets it as:
"Shall we see a movie together tonight?"

Isnt mimasen negative? I read that as "You do not want to see a movie together tonight?"
Shouldnt it read 'mimasu' for present positive?

If mimasen is negative, why is it not found in the translation?
Thanks in advance!

Questions using the negative form are used for polite invitations.

[Bucko]

In the lesson 36 pdf, line 1, it says:
"Konya issho ni eiga o mimasen ka?"
and the pdf interprets it as:
"Shall we see a movie together tonight?"

Isnt mimasen negative? I read that as "You do not want to see a movie together tonight?"
Shouldnt it read 'mimasu' for present positive?

If mimasen is negative, why is it not found in the translation?
Thanks in advance!

You'll find that the English here is what they call 意訳, or 'free translation'. Sometimes the literal translations of sentences come out a bit strange, so the translator will interpret the feeling of the sentence, rather than the literal meaning.

From your example, 'konya issho ni eiga o mimasen ka', the literal translation would be 'tonight, won't we see a movie together?', which is actually how Japanese people invite each other to things. But the free translation of this in English is more like 'Do you want to see a movie with me tonight?', or 'shall we see a movie tonight' etc.

Now that I've reached an intermediate level myself, I'm finding the hardest is avoiding the literal translation, which often comes out stiff and strange, and going for what would be said naturally.