〜できかねます: This is a very polite way to say you cannot do something. It shows you are sorry. It means you want to help but cannot.

Dictionary

〜できかねます

This is a very polite way to say you cannot do something. It shows you are sorry. It means you want to help but cannot.

N2 KMT8HumbleStandardVerb ConstructionMixedFormal Refusal And InabilityGrammar

Noun + できかねますPrimary

This is a very polite way to say you cannot do something. It shows you are sorry. It means you want to help but cannot.

その件につきましては、今すぐには回答できかねます。

Regarding that matter, I am afraid I cannot give you an answer right away.

HumbleNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeBusiness & Finance Work & Career

申し訳ございませんが、規定により返金はできかねますので、ご了承ください。

We sincerely apologize, but due to regulations, we are unable to provide a refund. We ask for your understanding.

HumbleNon PastAffirmativeMid SentenceDeclarativeBusiness & Finance

先日のご依頼ですが、担当者不在のため、即時対応はできかねました。

Regarding your request from the other day, we were unable to respond immediately as the person in charge was absent.

FormalPastAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeWork & Career Business & Finance

ご期待に沿えるかは分かりませんが、全く対応できかねるというわけではございません。

I am not sure if we can meet your expectations, but it is not the case that we are completely unable to assist.

HumbleNon PastNegativeSentence EndingDeclarativeBusiness & Finance

お客様のPC環境では、その機能の動作保証はできかねます。

In your PC environment, we are unable to guarantee the functionality of that feature.

HumbleNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeTechnology Business & Finance

This phrase is like saying, "I wish I could help, but I can't." It shows you are sorry to refuse. It is very polite when you say no.

This is like saying "I cannot do that." But it is much softer. It shows you feel bad about it. It is more polite than just saying "I cannot." It is less formal than "I humbly cannot do that."

Don't use this when talking to friends. For example, don't say "I can't swim" with this phrase. This phrase is for formal situations. It is for work. You use it with customers. You use it when you speak for your company.

Often confused with(1)

〜かねます

A formal and indirect way to express that one is unable or finds it difficult to do something. It is often used in business contexts to politely refuse a request.

Contrasts with(1)

〜ことはできません

This phrase means you cannot do something. It shows that an action is not possible. You use it for rules or when you firmly say "no".

Less formal alternatives(1)

〜いたしかねます

This phrase means 'I cannot do it'. You use it to politely refuse a request. It shows you are sorry you cannot help.

Verb stem form

This is a special form of a verb. You use it to join verbs together. You can also use it to make a noun from a verb.

ます形

This is a polite verb ending. You use it to show respect. It is the basic way to speak politely in Japanese.

〜かねる

This means you cannot do something. It is often because of a reason you cannot control. You use it to say "no" politely, like in a store.

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Dictionary

〜できかねます

This is a very polite way to say you cannot do something. It shows you are sorry. It means you want to help but cannot.

N2 KMT8HumbleStandardVerb ConstructionMixedFormal Refusal And InabilityGrammar

Noun + できかねますPrimary

This is a very polite way to say you cannot do something. It shows you are sorry. It means you want to help but cannot.

その件につきましては、今すぐには回答できかねます。

Regarding that matter, I am afraid I cannot give you an answer right away.

HumbleNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeBusiness & Finance Work & Career

申し訳ございませんが、規定により返金はできかねますので、ご了承ください。

We sincerely apologize, but due to regulations, we are unable to provide a refund. We ask for your understanding.

HumbleNon PastAffirmativeMid SentenceDeclarativeBusiness & Finance

先日のご依頼ですが、担当者不在のため、即時対応はできかねました。

Regarding your request from the other day, we were unable to respond immediately as the person in charge was absent.

FormalPastAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeWork & Career Business & Finance

ご期待に沿えるかは分かりませんが、全く対応できかねるというわけではございません。

I am not sure if we can meet your expectations, but it is not the case that we are completely unable to assist.

HumbleNon PastNegativeSentence EndingDeclarativeBusiness & Finance

お客様のPC環境では、その機能の動作保証はできかねます。

In your PC environment, we are unable to guarantee the functionality of that feature.

HumbleNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeTechnology Business & Finance

This phrase is like saying, "I wish I could help, but I can't." It shows you are sorry to refuse. It is very polite when you say no.

This is like saying "I cannot do that." But it is much softer. It shows you feel bad about it. It is more polite than just saying "I cannot." It is less formal than "I humbly cannot do that."

Often confused with(1)

〜かねます

A formal and indirect way to express that one is unable or finds it difficult to do something. It is often used in business contexts to politely refuse a request.

Contrasts with(1)

〜ことはできません

This phrase means you cannot do something. It shows that an action is not possible. You use it for rules or when you firmly say "no".

Less formal alternatives(1)

〜いたしかねます

This phrase means 'I cannot do it'. You use it to politely refuse a request. It shows you are sorry you cannot help.

Verb stem form

This is a special form of a verb. You use it to join verbs together. You can also use it to make a noun from a verb.

ます形

This is a polite verb ending. You use it to show respect. It is the basic way to speak politely in Japanese.

〜かねる

This means you cannot do something. It is often because of a reason you cannot control. You use it to say "no" politely, like in a store.

Track your mastery

Kumi's KMT system tracks your mastery across kanji, vocabulary, grammar, and reading. Create a free account to use it on 220,000+ concepts.

〜できかねます

Patterns1

Meaning

Examples5

Nuance1

Contrasts1

Restrictions1

Compare with3

Often confused with(1)

Contrasts with(1)

Less formal alternatives(1)

Prerequisites3

Track your mastery

〜できかねます

Patterns1

Meaning

Examples5

Nuance1

Contrasts1

Restrictions1

Compare with3

Often confused with(1)

Contrasts with(1)

Less formal alternatives(1)

Prerequisites3

Track your mastery