“〜kaneru・kanemasu”: Hard to / Unable to 〜 (a polite refusal) [JLPT N2]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

“I'm afraid I cannot answer” — a formal, polite way to say something is difficult to do

「その件はお答えしかねます」 — not a flat ‘no,' but ‘I can hardly …'

On a support call, the clerk doesn't say 「できません (can't)」 but 「その件については、お答えしかねます」 (I'm afraid I can hardly answer that) — 「〜かねる／かねます」 expresses “can hardly ～, am unable to ～”: a polite, formal ‘can't,' common for a soft refusal in business and service settings. This N2 pattern needs special care against its look-alike opposite, 「〜かねない (could well ～)」. This guide sorts them out.

Core: can hardly ～, unable to ～ (a polite, formal ‘can't')

「(verb masu-stem) ＋ かねる」 = “can hardly ～, am unable to ～, am not in a position to ～” — expressing “(out of some consideration/position) can't, am not able to do,” in a polite, formal tone, more courteous than a blunt 「できません」:

• ご要望には応じかねます (I'm afraid I can hardly meet your request).
• その判断は、私には致しかねます (that judgment I can hardly make).

Feel: “can hardly …／I'm afraid I can't …” — the core is “politely expressing ‘can't/not in a position to,'” usually a “can't” from position, rules, or a psychological reservation, common in business, customer service, formal refusals. The honorific form 「かねます」 is commonest. A formal, written expression.

Attachment & common forms

Examples in use

• 誠に申し訳ございませんが、ご返金は致しかねます。(We're truly sorry, but we can hardly issue a refund.)
• 個人情報につきましては、お教えしかねます。(Regarding personal information, I'm afraid I can hardly tell you.)
• そのご提案には、賛成しかねます。(That proposal, I can hardly agree with.)
• 私一人では、決めかねる問題です。(It's a matter I can hardly decide alone.)
• 彼の苦労を見かねて、手を貸した。(Unable to just watch his struggle, I lent a hand.)

⚠️ Common mistakes to avoid

① 「かねる」 (can hardly, unable) ≠ 「かねない」 (could well, negative) — opposite meanings! The most important distinction. 〜かねる = can hardly ～, unable to ～ (‘can't, not in a position to do,' a polite refusal) (お答えしかねます = I'm afraid I can hardly answer); 〜かねない = could well ～, is liable to ～ (a bad thing ‘could happen') (倒れかねない = could well collapse). Same attachment (verb masu-stem), yet opposite meanings: かねる = (I) can't do it; かねない = (a bad thing) could happen. Don't confuse 「答えかねます (can hardly answer)」 with 「かねない (could well …)」. (かねない: see 〈かねない〉.)

② 「かねる」 is a ‘polite can't,' more courteous than 「できません」. It's not “utterly incapable” by ability, but ‘not in a position to/can hardly' do out of position, rules, reservation, in a polite, formal tone. In business/service refusals, 「〜かねます」 is more fitting and softer than 「できません」 (お答えできません = can't answer, blunter; お答えしかねます = I'm afraid I can hardly answer, softer). To refuse politely, use かねます.

③ Attachment: verb masu-stem, mostly the honorific 「かねます」. Attaches to the verb masu-stem (分かる→分かりかねる, 引き受ける→引き受けかねる). In formal settings almost always the honorific 「かねます」. Note it's a written, formal expression, rarely used with friends (with friends a plain 「できない」 suffices); it's mainly for business, service, formal soft refusals.

🔄 Compare: かねる／かねない／できない／〜づらい

💡 Learning tip

「〜かねる／かねます」 = can hardly ～, unable to ～, its core “politely, formally expressing ‘can't/not in a position to do,'” mostly for soft refusals in business, service, formal settings (お答えしかねます, 賛成しかねます). Three points: ① most important — don't confuse it with the opposite 「かねない」: かねる = (I) can hardly/can't (a polite refusal), かねない = (a bad thing) could happen (a warning); same attachment, opposite directions; ② more courteous than 「できません」 — to refuse politely use 「かねます」; ③ attaches to the verb masu-stem, mostly the honorific かねます, and is written, formal. The idiom 「見かねる」 = can't bear to watch. To fittingly say “I'm afraid I can hardly …” in business, かねます nails it. (The opposite “could well ～”: see 〈かねない〉.)

❓ Quick FAQ

Q: 「かねる」 and 「かねない」 differ by just a 「ない」 — why are they opposite?

The key is 「かねる」's own meaning and how adding 「ない」 flips it. 「〜かねる」 = can hardly ～, unable to ～ (the polite ‘can't' of ‘can't, not in a position to do'): お答えしかねます (I can hardly answer); 賛成しかねます (I can hardly agree). 「〜かねない」 = could well ～, is liable to ～: it's 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 the flip? — かねる (can hardly do) ＋ ない → not can-hardly (happen) → could well (happen). And because of this “could well happen” feel, 「かねない」 is used only for unwanted bad things (could fall, could invite misunderstanding). So though the attachment is the same (verb masu-stem), the meanings are opposite: かねる = (someone) can hardly do something (a polite refusal); かねない = (a bad thing) could well happen (a warning). Memory aid: かねる = I can't do it (refusal); かねない = (a bad thing) could (warning). This is N2's most classic trap pair — keep them straight. (かねない: see 〈かねない〉.)

Q: When refusing, what's the difference between 「かねます」 and 「できません」?

Courtesy and formality. 「できません」 = can't, unable (a blunt negation, harder, more explicit): ご返金はできません (we can't issue a refund — a flat refusal). It's clear and crisp, but said to a customer in a service/business setting, it can seem too blunt, a bit cold. 「〜かねます」 = I'm afraid I can hardly ～ (a polite, formal ‘can't,' phrasing ‘can't do' gently and courteously): ご返金は致しかねます (I'm afraid we can hardly issue a refund — a soft refusal). By phrasing it as “can hardly (rather than ‘can't'),” it wraps the refusal more courteously, mindful of the other's feelings — the standard polite phrasing in business and customer service. The difference is tone, soft vs hard: できません is direct, explicit; かねます is polite, formal, implying “(it's not that I'm unwilling, but by position/rules) I really can hardly.” So: for customers, formal settings, a polite refusal → 「かねます」; for a general, need-to-be-clear ‘can't' → 「できません」. Japanese service industries almost always use 「〜かねます」 for a soft refusal (お受けしかねます, 対応しかねます), because it conveys “no” while preserving courtesy and the other's face. To make a refusal sound fitting and professional, 「かねます」 is the key pattern.

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「申し訳ございませんが、その質問にはお答え___。」(regret we cannot answer; polite/indirect)

(A) しかねます　(B) しかねません　(C) できます　(D) します

Q2. 「かねる」の前に来る動詞の形は?

(A) ます形語幹　(B) dictionary form　(C) ない形　(D) た形

Q3. 「決めかねる」の意味は?

(A) Hard to decide (polite/indirect)

(B) Will definitely decide

(C) Might decide

(D) Already decided

Q4. 「かねる」と「かねない」の違いとして正しいのは?

(A) かねる＝hard to do (refusal); かねない＝might well happen (negative possibility) —— opposite meanings

(B) The two are exactly the same

(C) かねる＝might happen

(D) かねない＝hard to do

Q5. 接法・場面が正しいのは?

(A) ご希望に添いかねます。　(B) ご希望に添うかねます。

(C) ご希望に添いかねない (intending a polite refusal)。　(D) ご希望に添ってかねます。

Answer Explanations

1. (A) しかねます ── A polite refusal (hard to answer).

2. (A) ます形語幹 ── ます-stem ＋ かねる.

3. (A) ── Hard to decide (polite/indirect).

4. (A) ── かねる = hard to do (refusal); かねない = might well happen (the opposite).

5. (A) ── 「添いかねます」 is correct; (C) misuses かねない (opposite meaning).