かねる

かねる is a formal expression attached to the verb stem (ます-stem) to indicate that something is difficult to do, impossible to do, or that the speaker hesitates to do it. It conveys the nuance that one wants to or would normally be able to do something but cannot bring themselves to or finds it impossible due to circumstances, propriety, or personal feelings.

Structure

V[stem] + かねる

• うけいれる受け入れる → 受け入れ → 受け入れかねる (cannot accept)
• りかい理解する → 理解し → 理解しかねる (cannot understand)
• さんせい賛成する → 賛成し → 賛成しかねる (cannot agree)

Usage

かねる is used in formal and business settings, especially in customer service and professional communication. It softens a refusal, making it more polite than a direct negative.

Because かねる itself is a verb (る-verb), it conjugates normally: かねます (polite), かねた (past), かねない (negative – but see below).

かねない – a different meaning

Be careful not to confuse かねる with かねない. While かねる means "cannot do," かねない means "might well do" or "there is a risk of" – the opposite nuance.

かねない expresses concern that something undesirable could happen. It is used to warn about a negative possibility.

Common collocations

かねる frequently appears with verbs like はんだん判断する、たいおう対応する、しょうち承知する、 りょうしょう了承する、and なっとく納得する in business Japanese, and is a hallmark of polite refusals and disclaimers.