〜かねる
JLPT N2:cannot / be unable to
A restrained way to say you cannot do something because it is difficult to accept, judge or carry out in your position. It is common in polite refusals.
How to form it
- Add かねる to the ます-stem: 答えます becomes 答えかねる.
- It describes considered reluctance or difficulty, rather than a lack of physical ability.
Examples
その質問にはお答えしかねます。
I am unable to answer that question.
今の情報だけでは判断しかねる。
It is difficult to judge from the current information alone.
Notes
- Customer service often uses いたしかねます or 対応しかねます to soften a refusal.
Common mistakes
- Using the dictionary form before かねる.
- Using it for simple physical inability; use a potential negative such as 持てない.
Same form, different meaning
- 〜かねないmight / risk doing
かねない has the opposite-looking meaning: an undesirable thing might happen.