できるものもできない

English translation: I can't do what I could otherwise do

23:01 Apr 5, 2016

Japanese to English translations [Non-PRO]
Art/Literary - Cinema, Film, TV, Drama

Japanese term or phrase: できるものもできない

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!

Riccardo91
Italy

English translation:I can't do what I could otherwise do

Explanation:
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.

Selected response from:

Port City
New Zealand

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4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

3 +2

How's a thief supposed to steal with all these cops around!!??

Troy Fowler

3 +1

I can't do what I could otherwise do

Port City

Answers

11 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

How's a thief supposed to steal with all these cops around!!??

Explanation:
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.

Troy Fowler
United States
Local time: 03:21
Native speaker of: English

14 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

I can't do what I could otherwise do

Port City
New Zealand
Native speaker of:

Japanese
PRO pts in category: 6

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できるものもできない

English translation: I can't do what I could otherwise do

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できるものもできない

English translation: I can't do what I could otherwise do

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