“〜kanenai”: Might Well 〜 / Could End Up 〜 (a negative warning) [JLPT N2]
Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026
“At this rate it could lead to an accident” — warning that something bad might happen
「そんな無理を続けたら、倒れかねない」 — it could well happen (and it's a bad thing)
「こんな働き方を続けたら、過労で倒れかねない」 (keep working like this and you could well collapse from overwork) — 「〜かねない」 expresses “could well ～, might well ～, is liable to ～”: warning about a bad outcome, saying it's “not impossible.” This N2 pattern is used only for negative results. Beware its look-alike opposite, 「〜かねる (can hardly ～)」. This guide sorts them out.
Core: (a bad thing) could well happen, is liable to ～
「(verb masu-stem) ＋ かねない」 = “could well ～, is liable to ～, might well ～” — saying a negative outcome ‘is not impossible' to happen, with a warning, worry:
- 睡眠不足は、健康を害しかねない (lack of sleep could well harm your health).
- そんな発言は、誤解を招きかねない (such a remark is liable to invite misunderstanding).
Feel: “might well …／is liable to …” — the core is “warning about the possibility of a negative outcome” (= 「〜する可能性がある」, but used only for bad things). Being the double-negative 「かね (can hardly) ＋ ない」 = “not impossible (to happen)” → “could well happen.” It's a written, formal expression.
Attachment & ‘only for negatives'
| Form | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| verb masu-stem ＋ かねない | could well (a bad thing happen) | 事故が起きかねない （an accident could well happen） |
| (negative outcomes only) | harm・failure・misunderstanding… | 命を落としかねない （could well cost a life） |
| ＝ 〜恐れがある | written synonym | 悪化しかねない（＝恐れがある） |
Examples in context
- 準備不足では、大きな失敗を招きかねない。(With inadequate preparation, you could well invite a big failure.)
- この問題を放置すれば、事態が悪化しかねない。(Leaving this problem could well worsen the situation.)
- 感情的な発言は、関係を壊しかねない。(An emotional remark is liable to ruin the relationship.)
- 過度なダイエットは、体を壊しかねない。(Excessive dieting could well damage your body.)
- そのやり方では、法律に触れかねない。(That approach could well break the law.)
⚠️ Easy traps to avoid
① 「かねない」 (could well, negative) ≠ 「かねる」 (can hardly, unable) — opposite meanings! The most important distinction. 〜かねない = could well ～, is liable to ～ (a bad thing ‘could happen') (倒れかねない = could well collapse); 〜かねる = can hardly ～, unable to ～ (‘can't, is not in a position to do,' often a polite refusal) (賛成しかねます = I can hardly agree / I must respectfully disagree). Same attachment (verb masu-stem), yet opposite meanings: かねない = could (a bad thing happen), かねる = can't/hardly (do something). Don't confuse 「倒れかねない (could collapse)」 with 「〜かねる (can hardly …)」. (かねる: see 〈かねる〉.)
② 「かねない」 is used only for negative outcomes, not good things. It specifically warns about bad, unwanted outcomes (accidents, failure, harm, collapse, misunderstanding…), never a positive outcome (×合格しかねない, ×成功しかねない = ×). For “a good thing could happen” use 「〜可能性がある／〜かもしれない」 (成功する可能性がある). See 「かねない」 and what precedes is always a bad thing.
③ Attachment: verb masu-stem — don't attach wrong. 「かねない」 attaches to the verb masu-stem (continuative) — 起きる→起きかねない, 招く→招きかねない, する→しかねない. Not the dictionary form (×起きるかねない), not a noun. Also note it's a written, formal expression; colloquially “could (a bad thing) happen” can use 「〜かもしれない」, but かねない carries more of a “is liable to, might well” warning, weighty feel.
🔄 Compare: かねない／かねる／恐れがある／かもしれない
| Form | Feel | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜かねない | could well ～, is liable to ～ (negative warning, written) | 倒れかねない （could well collapse） |
| 〜かねる | can hardly ～, unable to ～ (can't, polite refusal) | 賛成しかねます （I'm afraid I can't agree） |
| 〜恐れがある | there's a risk of ～ (negative possibility, written synonym) | 悪化する恐れがある （there is a risk it will worsen） |
| 〜かもしれない | might ～ (neutral, good or bad, colloquial) | 雨が降るかもしれない （it might rain） |
💡 An exam judgment tip
「〜かねない」 = could well ～, is liable to ～, might well ～, its core “warning about a bad outcome, saying it's ‘not impossible' to happen” (倒れかねない; 誤解を招きかねない). Three points: ① most important — don't confuse it with the opposite 「かねる」: かねない = could (a bad thing happen), かねる = can hardly/unable (do something, a polite refusal); same attachment, opposite meaning; ② used only for negative outcomes (accidents, failure, harm…), good things use 「〜可能性がある」; ③ attaches to the verb masu-stem, and is written (synonym 「〜恐れがある」). To warn in a formal context “at this rate, something (bad) could well happen,” かねない has the most force. (The opposite “can hardly ～”: see 〈かねる〉.)
❓ Common questions
Q: 「かねない」 and 「かねる」 differ by just a 「ない」 — why are they opposite?
This is N2's most classic trap; the key is 「かねる」's own meaning and how adding 「ない」 changes it. 「〜かねる」 = can hardly ～, unable to ～ (verb masu-stem ＋ かねる, meaning ‘can't, is not in a position to do,' a polite, weighty ‘can't,' often for refusal): ご要望には応じかねます (I can hardly meet your request — a polite refusal); その件については、お答えしかねます (I can hardly answer on that matter). 「かねる」 = “can hardly do.” 「〜かねない」 = could well ～, is liable to ～ (verb masu-stem ＋ かねない, the negative of 「かねる」): literally 「かね (can hardly) ＋ ない (not)」 = “not can-hardly (happen)” = “could well (happen).” So 「倒れかねない」 = “not un-liable to fall → could well fall.” See it? — 「かねる」 is “can hardly (do),” and adding 「ない」 makes it “not can-hardly (happen)” = “could well (happen),” so the meaning flips from ‘can't do' to ‘could well happen.' And because of this “could well happen” feel, 「かねない」 is used specifically for unwanted bad things (could fall, could invite misunderstanding, could break the law). Memory aid: かねる = can hardly/unable (do, polite refusal); かねない = (a bad thing) could well happen (warning). Both attach to the verb masu-stem, but one says “I can't do it,” the other “(a bad thing) could happen” — opposite directions, so keep them straight. (かねる: see 〈かねる〉.)
Q: 「かねない」 and 「かもしれない」 both mean ‘might' — how do I tell them apart?
Whether it's ‘negative only ＋ written warning' or ‘neutral ＋ colloquial general.' 「〜かねない」 = (a bad thing) could well ～, is liable to ～ (used only for negative outcomes, with warning, worry, more written, weighty): 無理をすると、体を壊しかねない (overdo it and you could well ruin your health — a warning about a bad result); この発言は問題になりかねない (this remark is liable to cause trouble). It attaches only to bad things, with an “is liable to, might well” warning, weighty feel, mostly in written, formal contexts. 「〜かもしれない」 = might ～, perhaps ～ (neutral, for good or bad, colloquial～general, just marking possibility): 明日は晴れるかもしれない (it might be sunny tomorrow — good); 失敗するかもしれない (might fail — bad); 彼はもう帰ったかもしれない (he might have gone home — neutral). It works for good or bad, neutral in tone, commonest in daily talk. Test: to give a written, weighty warning about a ‘bad outcome' → かねない (bad things only); to plainly say ‘might (good or bad)' colloquially → かもしれない. E.g., 「事故が起きかねない」 (an accident is liable to happen — a warning, bad, written) vs 「事故が起きるかもしれない」 (an accident might happen — plainly marking possibility, neutral). The former is weightier, more like a warning; the latter flatter. So in formal contexts warning about a bad thing use かねない, for everyday possibility use かもしれない.
🖊️ Practice Questions (5)
Q1. 「スピードを出しすぎると、事故を起こし___。」(might well cause an accident)
(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) dictionary form (C) ない形 (D) て形
Q3. 「大事故になりかねない」の意味は?
(A) Might well turn into a major accident (negative worry)
(B) Will definitely not go wrong
(C) An accident has already happened
(D) Definitely safe
Q4. 「かねない」と「かねる」の関係は?
(A) Opposite meanings: かねない＝might well happen; かねる＝hard to do
(B) The two are exactly the same
(C) Both mean “able to”
(D) Both mean “forbidden”
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。
Answer Explanations
1. (A) かねない ── Might well cause an accident (negative).
2. (A) ます形語幹 ── ます-stem ＋ かねない.
3. (A) ── Might well turn into a major accident.
4. (A) ── かねない = might well happen; かねる = hard to do (the opposite).
5. (A) ── ます-stem 「招き」 ＋ かねない.