This sentence is from the Marugoto chapter on using V+ないで.

I am not sure about the role of あまり - I was told that it adds an extra
emphasis? So how do you translate it? ("You really mustn't work too hard"?)

They also have あまり むりをしないで which I find equally difficult to translate. ("You
really mustn't overdo it"?)

Any suggestions?
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2018-06-14T09:47:53.323
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question
negation
Translation: あまり働きすぎないでください。
When used as an adverb, あまり has two definitions. In addition to the "not very
much" meaning that is restricted to negative sentences, it can also mean "too
much" or "excessively", which is the meaning used here. に or にも is often
attached when used like this.

The すぎる pattern already conveys the idea of "too much" in the first sentence,
so adding あまり simply doubles down on that. That is probably why you were told
it adds emphasis. Removing it wouldn't change the meaning of the sentence.

> あまり働きすぎないでください。  
>  Please don't work too much (hard).

Your second sentence is essentially the same, but the "too much" is conveyed
solely by あまり.

> あまり無理をしないで。  
>  Don't push yourself too hard.
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2018-06-14T14:19:36.267
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answer