GRAMMAR DETAIL
かねる
Politely and indirectly indicates difficulty in accepting a request or taking an action.
Examples
個人情報については、こちらではお答えしかねます。
We are unable to answer questions about personal information here.
Words used
この提案には、すぐには賛成しかねる。
I cannot readily agree to this proposal.
Words used
その条件では、ご要望をお受けしかねます。
Under those conditions, we are unable to accommodate your request.
Words used
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure:
かねるfollows a verb's masu-stem to express difficulty acting under the circumstances and is common in polite refusals. - Basic usage:
個人情報については、こちらではお答えしかねます。indirectly declines to provide answers concerning personal information.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- A refusal in an affirmative form
お受けしかねますmeans being unable to accommodate a request. It conveys refusal without an overt negative ending and should not be read as acceptance.
- A different judgment with kanenai
賛成しかねるmeans finding it difficult to agree, whereas誤解を招きかねないwarns of a risk of causing misunderstanding.かねないis a separate expression for the possibility of an undesirable event.