cannot even…if wants
would like to…but cannot
wants to…but cannot
Structure
- Verb1[ る ] + に + Verb1[Potential[ ない ]]
[A[る]にA[Potential[ない]] is used when one wants to do action A, but circumstances make it impossible]
[言うに言えない、泣くに泣けない and 引くに引けない are common set expressions using this pattern]
[This pattern is generally used with に by itself. Sometimes Verb[る]にも is used, but the verb is not repeated and some other verb in negative form is used instead]