V に V ない ((V) ni (V) nai) — want to ~ but can't bring oneself to

The same verb twice — 'I'd like to, but something in my heart won't let me.'

Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)

V辞書形 + に + 同じVの可能形ない、…

Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)

When to use it

The shop owner has helped you a lot. You want to move to another job, but you just can't open your mouth to say 'I'm quitting': 「辞めたいと言うに言えない」.
You mostly hear it in set pairs like 言うに言えない事情 and 笑うに笑えない話.

Meaning

There is a way — you could simply say it — but shame, pity, face or the relationship holds you back.
That restless 'I want to, but my heart won't let me' is what 「VにVない」gives.

How to attach

Dictionary form + 「に」+ the negative potential of the same verb: 言うに言えない・捨てるに捨てられない・泣くに泣けない
The same verb in both places, and the second is always the 'can't' form
「にも」is also said: 泣くにも泣けない

Versus what you know

N2It differs from 「〜ようがない」(there is no way at all): there, no road exists; here the road exists but your heart gets stuck.
The next point, 「〜(よ)うにも〜ない」, is for when an outside reason blocks you.

Examples (उदाहरणहरू)

店長には世話になっているので、辞めたいと言うに言えない。

てんちょうにはせわになっているので、やめたいというにいえない。

The store manager has done so much for me that I just can't bring myself to say I want to quit.

How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 世話になっている = I've been helped a lot (what holds me back) → 言う = to say → 「に」 → the same verb's 'can't' form: 言えない = I want to say it but just can't.

帰国の前日にパスポートをなくして、泣くに泣けない気持ちだった。

きこくのぜんじつにパスポートをなくして、なくになけないきもちだった。

I lost my passport the day before flying home — I felt like crying, but I couldn't even cry.

How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) パスポートをなくして = losing my passport → 泣く = to cry → 「に」 → 泣けない = can't even cry (crying won't fix anything) → then the noun: 気持ちだった.

先輩にもらった古いパソコンは、使わなくても捨てるに捨てられない。

せんぱいにもらったふるいパソコンは、つかわなくてもすてるにすてられない。

The old computer my senior gave me — even though I don't use it, I can't bring myself to throw it away.

How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 先輩にもらった = given to me by my senior (why I'm attached to it) → 捨てる = to throw away → 「に」 → 捨てられない = just can't throw it away.

Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)

Question: 1/3

「せっかくの手作りの料理なので、多すぎても残す＿＿＿。」— fill the blank.

💡 Hint: 「に」+ the 'can't' form of the same verb.