"Lia edzino ne devas porti ian robon."

Translation: His wife does not have to wear some kind of dress.

[Notasurgeon]

It accepted my answer of "His wife must not wear any kind of dress." which has a very different connotation from the primary answer. Can the Esperanto sentence really be translated to either of those or does it tend to imply one over the other?

[tomaszym]

1. ne devas = don't have to (NE musn't)
2. No, ian = some kind of.
3. Think about differences (?) between:

a) ian robon
b) iun robon
c) ĉian robon
d) ĉiun robon

(Yeah, this might give a headache but it's worth it 8-) enjoy! )

[Siavel]

I would also like to know the difference between "his wife doesn't need to wear any kind of dress" and "his wife mustn't wear any kind of dress"

[jeanac67]

"his wife doesn't need to wear any kind of dress" (or "doesn't have to") = She may wear a dress (any kind) or not. (Maybe they are going to a casual party.)

"his wife mustn't wear any kind of dress" = She may not wear a dress (any kind). (Maybe they are going to play sports.)