〜かねない: This means something bad might happen. You use it to show worry or to give a warning. The result is always negative.

Dictionary

〜かねない

This means something bad might happen. You use it to show worry or to give a warning. The result is always negative.

N2 KMT5FormalStandardAuxiliary ConstructionMixedNegative Tendency Or RiskGrammar

Verb [stem] + かねないPrimary

Verb [stem] + かねません

This means something bad might happen. You use it to show worry or to give a warning. The result is always negative.

そんな無責任な態度では、会社の信用を失いかねない。

With such an irresponsible attitude, you could lose the company's trust.

FormalNon PastNegativeSentence EndingConjecturalBusiness & Finance Work & Career

ネットでの不用意な発言は、大きな問題に発展しかねない。

A careless remark on the internet could develop into a major problem.

FormalNon PastNegativeSentence EndingConjecturalInternet & Social Media Politics & Law

あの時の彼の運転は本当に危なくて、大事故を起こしかねなかった。

His driving at that time was truly dangerous; he could have caused a major accident.

NeutralPastNegativeSentence EndingConjecturalDaily Life Travel & Transportation

彼の過激な思想は、社会に混乱を招きかねない危険なものだ。

His radical ideology is a dangerous thing that could bring chaos to society.

FormalNon PastNegativePrenominalDeclarativePolitics & Law

適切な治療を怠れば、病状が悪化しかねませんよ。

If you neglect proper treatment, your condition could certainly worsen.

PoliteNon PastNegativeSentence EndingConjecturalMedicine & Health

This grammar is like saying, "It's not impossible that something bad will happen." It means there is a real chance of a bad thing. Even though it talks about a chance, it always feels negative.

This is different from '〜おそれがある' (osore ga aru). '〜かねない' shows your own strong worry. You think something bad might happen. '〜おそれがある' is more like a fact. News reports use it. Also, '〜かねる' (kaneru) means you cannot do something. You use it when you politely say no.

Don't use this when something good might happen. For example, you cannot say "You might win the lottery" with this grammar.

Often confused with(1)

〜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.

Contrasts with(2)

〜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.

〜きらいがある

This phrase means someone tends to do something bad. It shows a negative habit or fault.

More formal alternatives(1)

〜がち

Indicates a tendency or proneness to do something, usually with a negative connotation. It suggests that something happens frequently or easily, and is often an undesirable habit or state.

Less formal alternatives(1)

〜おそれがある

This means there is a chance something bad might happen. It is like saying 'there is a fear that...'.

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.

〜かも

This means 'maybe' or 'might'. You use it when you are not sure about something.

ない形

This is how you make a verb negative. It means "do not" or "will not." It is the casual way to say 〜ません.

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Dictionary

〜かねない

This means something bad might happen. You use it to show worry or to give a warning. The result is always negative.

N2 KMT5FormalStandardAuxiliary ConstructionMixedNegative Tendency Or RiskGrammar

Verb [stem] + かねないPrimary

Verb [stem] + かねません

This means something bad might happen. You use it to show worry or to give a warning. The result is always negative.

そんな無責任な態度では、会社の信用を失いかねない。

With such an irresponsible attitude, you could lose the company's trust.

FormalNon PastNegativeSentence EndingConjecturalBusiness & Finance Work & Career

ネットでの不用意な発言は、大きな問題に発展しかねない。

A careless remark on the internet could develop into a major problem.

FormalNon PastNegativeSentence EndingConjecturalInternet & Social Media Politics & Law

あの時の彼の運転は本当に危なくて、大事故を起こしかねなかった。

His driving at that time was truly dangerous; he could have caused a major accident.

NeutralPastNegativeSentence EndingConjecturalDaily Life Travel & Transportation

彼の過激な思想は、社会に混乱を招きかねない危険なものだ。

His radical ideology is a dangerous thing that could bring chaos to society.

FormalNon PastNegativePrenominalDeclarativePolitics & Law

適切な治療を怠れば、病状が悪化しかねませんよ。

If you neglect proper treatment, your condition could certainly worsen.

PoliteNon PastNegativeSentence EndingConjecturalMedicine & Health

This grammar is like saying, "It's not impossible that something bad will happen." It means there is a real chance of a bad thing. Even though it talks about a chance, it always feels negative.

Don't use this when something good might happen. For example, you cannot say "You might win the lottery" with this grammar.

Often confused with(1)

〜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.

Contrasts with(2)

〜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.

〜きらいがある

This phrase means someone tends to do something bad. It shows a negative habit or fault.

More formal alternatives(1)

〜がち

Indicates a tendency or proneness to do something, usually with a negative connotation. It suggests that something happens frequently or easily, and is often an undesirable habit or state.

Less formal alternatives(1)

〜おそれがある

This means there is a chance something bad might happen. It is like saying 'there is a fear that...'.

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.

〜かも

This means 'maybe' or 'might'. You use it when you are not sure about something.

ない形

This is how you make a verb negative. It means "do not" or "will not." It is the casual way to say 〜ません.

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.

〜かねない

Patterns2

Meaning

Examples5

Nuance1

Contrasts1

Restrictions1

Compare with5

Often confused with(1)

Contrasts with(2)

More formal alternatives(1)

Less formal alternatives(1)

Prerequisites3

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〜かねない

Patterns2

Meaning

Examples5

Nuance1

Contrasts1

Restrictions1

Compare with5

Often confused with(1)

Contrasts with(2)

More formal alternatives(1)

Less formal alternatives(1)

Prerequisites3

Track your mastery