〜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.

〜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.

N2 KMT5FormalStandardAuxiliary VerbMixedNegative Tendency Or RiskGrammar

Verb [stem] + かねるPrimary

Verb [stem] + かねます

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.

申し訳ございませんが、お客様のご要望にはお応えしかねます。

I am very sorry, but we are unable to fulfill your request.

HumbleNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeBusiness & Finance Work & Career

その件につきましては、社内でも意見が分かれ、結論を出し兼ねました。

Regarding that matter, opinions were divided within the company, and we were unable to reach a conclusion.

FormalPastAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeBusiness & Finance Work & Career

どちらが正しいか判断しかねる状況では、中立の立場を取るべきだ。

In a situation where it is difficult to judge which is correct, one should take a neutral stance.

FormalNon PastAffirmativePrenominalNecessityCore Concepts Politics & Law

彼がその提案に賛成しかねるとは、全く予想していなかった。

I had not expected at all that he would be unable to agree to that proposal.

NeutralPastNegativeMid SentenceDeclarativeEmotions & Psychology Work & Career

彼の態度は理解に苦しむが、一概に非難しかねる事情もあるのだろう。

His attitude is difficult to understand, but there are probably circumstances that make it hard to blame him outright.

FormalNon PastAffirmativePrenominalConjecturalEmotions & Psychology Family & Relationships

This is different from '〜かねない'. '〜かねる' means you cannot do something. It is a polite refusal. '〜かねない' means something bad might happen. For example, 'I cannot agree' uses '〜かねる'. 'He might oppose it' uses '〜かねない'.

Don't use this when you physically cannot do something. For example, don't say "I can't lift it because it's heavy." This phrase is for when you feel unable to do something for other reasons.

Use this when you want to sound polite and a bit distant. It helps you say 'no' gently. It makes it seem like rules or situations stop you, not that you just don't want to.

Often confused with(1)

〜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.

Contrasts with(3)

〜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.

〜ことができる

This phrase means you can do something. It shows you have the skill or that something is possible.

〜得る (うる / える)

This means something is possible. It shows that a situation can happen. It is used in formal writing.

More formal alternatives(1)

〜ないわけにはいかない

You use this phrase when you feel you must do something. It means you have no other choice. You feel a strong need to do it.

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.

〜にくい

This means something is hard to do. It is hard because of how that thing is.

〜れる / 〜られる (potential form)

This grammar shows you can do something. It means 'can' or 'to be able to'.

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Dictionary

〜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.

N2 KMT5FormalStandardAuxiliary VerbMixedNegative Tendency Or RiskGrammar

Verb [stem] + かねるPrimary

Verb [stem] + かねます

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.

申し訳ございませんが、お客様のご要望にはお応えしかねます。

I am very sorry, but we are unable to fulfill your request.

HumbleNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeBusiness & Finance Work & Career

その件につきましては、社内でも意見が分かれ、結論を出し兼ねました。

Regarding that matter, opinions were divided within the company, and we were unable to reach a conclusion.

FormalPastAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeBusiness & Finance Work & Career

どちらが正しいか判断しかねる状況では、中立の立場を取るべきだ。

In a situation where it is difficult to judge which is correct, one should take a neutral stance.

FormalNon PastAffirmativePrenominalNecessityCore Concepts Politics & Law

彼がその提案に賛成しかねるとは、全く予想していなかった。

I had not expected at all that he would be unable to agree to that proposal.

NeutralPastNegativeMid SentenceDeclarativeEmotions & Psychology Work & Career

彼の態度は理解に苦しむが、一概に非難しかねる事情もあるのだろう。

His attitude is difficult to understand, but there are probably circumstances that make it hard to blame him outright.

FormalNon PastAffirmativePrenominalConjecturalEmotions & Psychology Family & Relationships

Don't use this when you physically cannot do something. For example, don't say "I can't lift it because it's heavy." This phrase is for when you feel unable to do something for other reasons.

Use this when you want to sound polite and a bit distant. It helps you say 'no' gently. It makes it seem like rules or situations stop you, not that you just don't want to.