“〜kanenai”: Might Well 〜 / Could End Up 〜 (a negative warning) [JLPT N2]
By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 2026
“At this rate it could lead to an accident” — warning that something bad might happen
“〜kanenai”: Might Well 〜 / Could End Up 〜 (a negative warning)
「verb ます-stem ＋ かねない」 means “might well 〜, could easily 〜” — warning that some bad thing has a real possibility of happening. E.g. 「このままでは、事故になりかねない」 (at this rate, it could lead to an accident), 「その発言は、誤解を招きかねない」 (that remark could invite misunderstanding). It's used only for negative, unwished-for things (accidents, failure, misunderstanding), with a tone of worry and warning.
🧠 Core nuance: at this rate, something bad may well happen
The core is a warning that (a bad thing) might happen: the speaker worries about a bad outcome, judging that “under certain conditions, it could well turn out that way” (speeding → could crash, saying that → could be misunderstood). かねない pairs exclusively with negative outcomes, never good ones (✗ 成功しかねない). ⚠️ Note: it's the opposite of かねる (hard to do) — かねない = might well (negative possibility); かねる = can't do (polite decline). This is the biggest test point.
📌 How to Connect
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| verb ます-stem ＋ かねない | might well 〜 (negative) | 事故になりかねない |
| (only with negative outcomes) | 招く・なる・失う etc. | 誤解を招きかねない |
| (contrast) 〜かねる | hard to do (decline) | お答えしかねます |
💬 Example Sentences
- スピードを出しすぎると、事故を起こしかねない。(Going too fast, you could well cause an accident.) — negative warning
- このままでは、大事故になりかねない。(At this rate, it could lead to a major accident.) — worry
- 不用意な一言が、誤解を招きかねない。(A careless word could invite misunderstanding.) — could invite
- 過労が続けば、健康を損ないかねない。(If overwork continues, it could harm your health.) — warning
- そんなやり方では、信用を失いかねない。(With that approach, you could lose trust.) — could end up
🔄 Compare: かねない vs かねる vs おそれがある vs かもしれない
| Expression | Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜かねない | “might well 〜” (negative possibility, warning) | 事故になりかねない |
| 〜かねる | “hard to do” (decline, opposite!) | お答えしかねます |
| 〜おそれがある | “there's a risk of 〜” (negative possibility, written) | 倒産のおそれがある |
| 〜かもしれない | “maybe 〜” (neutral possibility, +/−) | 雨が降るかもしれない |
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- Reversing かねない vs かねる: かねない = might well (negative); かねる = hard to do (decline) — opposites, the most tested point.
- With good things: ✗ 成功しかねない → かねない only with negative outcomes (accidents, failure, misunderstanding).
- Connection: ます-stem ＋ かねない (✗ 招くかねない/招いてかねない).
- Not a strong negation: it's “(a bad thing) might happen,” not “won't.”
💡 Nuance & When to Use
かねない means “might well 〜, could easily 〜,” warning that some bad thing has a real chance of happening (could crash, could be misunderstood, could harm health). It pairs only with negative outcomes, with a worried, cautionary tone, common in admonition and reminders (at this rate it'll go wrong). ⚠️ Most importantly, don't confuse it with the opposite かねる (hard to do, decline)! かねない = might well; かねる = can't. It takes the ます-stem. Master “negative-possibility warning” and “opposite of かねる.” A must at N2.
🎯 JLPT Exam Tips
- High-frequency N2: verb ます-stem ＋ かねない = might well 〜 (negative possibility, warning).
- Key trap: かねない (might well, negative) vs かねる (hard to do, decline) — opposites!
- Restriction: only with negative outcomes, never good things.
🖊️ 練習題（5題）
Q1. 「スピードを出しすぎると、事故を起こし___。」（說不定會出事故）
(A) かねない (B) かねる (C) わけがない (D) はずがない
Q2. 「かねない」の前に来る動詞の形は?
(A) ます形語幹 (B) 辭書形 (C) ない形 (D) て形
Q3. 「大事故になりかねない」の意味は?
(A) 說不定會釀成大事故（負面擔憂）
(B) 絕不會出事
(C) 已經出事
(D) 一定安全
Q4. 「かねない」と「かねる」の関係は?
(A) 意思相反:かねない＝說不定會;かねる＝難以做到
(B) 兩者完全相同
(C) 都表示「能夠」
(D) 都表示「禁止」
Q5. 接法が正しいのは?
(A) 誤解を招きかねない。 (B) 誤解を招くかねない。
(C) 誤解を招かかねない。 (D) 誤解を招いてかねない。
答案解析
1. (A) かねない ── 說不定會出事故(負面)。
2. (A) ます形語幹 ── ます形語幹＋かねない。
3. (A) ── 說不定會釀成大事故。
4. (A) ── かねない 說不定會;かねる 難以做(相反)。
5. (A) ── ます形語幹「招き」＋かねない。