Apr 5, 2016 23:01
8 yrs ago
Japanese term
Italy
できるものもできない
Non-PRO
Japanese to English
Art/Literary
Cinema, Film, TV, Drama
Dear ProZ members,
I've found the expression できるものもできない in a cartoon, and I was wondering what does it mean exactly.
This is the complete sentence, said by a thief who's trying to set up his plan for the crime he's going to commit the day after.
警察があんなにいればできるものもできないな
"With all those policemen around, I can't do much!"
I can grasp the sense from the context, but I feel my comprehension is not accurate. Literally translated, it means "I can't do even what I can do", but what does this mean?
Thank you very much!
I've found the expression できるものもできない in a cartoon, and I was wondering what does it mean exactly.
This is the complete sentence, said by a thief who's trying to set up his plan for the crime he's going to commit the day after.
警察があんなにいればできるものもできないな
"With all those policemen around, I can't do much!"
I can grasp the sense from the context, but I feel my comprehension is not accurate. Literally translated, it means "I can't do even what I can do", but what does this mean?
Thank you very much!
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 +1 | I can't do what I could otherwise do |
Port City
|
| 3 +2 | How's a thief supposed to steal with all these cops around!!?? |
Troy Fowler
|
Proposed translations
+1
14 mins
Selected
I can't do what I could otherwise do
It means he can't execute the plan although he would be able to do if there were not so many policemen.
This kind of expression is often used when a person can't do something that he/she would otherwise be able to do under a different situation.
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Note added at 35 mins (2016-04-05 23:37:30 GMT)
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Here is an example.
「周囲がいろいろと口出しするから、できるものもできない」
http://diamond.jp/articles/-/74830
He would be able to do if he were left alone but he can't now.
This kind of expression is often used when a person can't do something that he/she would otherwise be able to do under a different situation.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 35 mins (2016-04-05 23:37:30 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Here is an example.
「周囲がいろいろと口出しするから、できるものもできない」
http://diamond.jp/articles/-/74830
He would be able to do if he were left alone but he can't now.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you very much!"
+2
11 mins
How's a thief supposed to steal with all these cops around!!??
Literally, the sentence says, "I can't even do what I'm supposed to be doing", but in normal English, I think it would be something like the captioned.
Buona fortuna.
Buona fortuna.
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