cannot, hard to, hesitate to

Beginner

15-20 min

common

Expert Reviewed

Explanation

Polite way to express inability or hesitation.

[Verb ます stem] + かねる

その質問にはお答えしかねます。

Sono shitsumon ni wa okotae shikanemasu.

I am unable to answer that question.

賛成しかねる意見がある。

Sansei shikaneru iken ga aru.

There are opinions I cannot agree with.

Polite/formal way to decline.

～得る/得ない

can, possible / cannot, impossible

～かねない

might, could possibly

～に違いない

must be ~, no doubt that ~, undoubtedly

～に関して/関する

regarding ~, concerning ~, about ~

～について/つい

about ~, concerning ~

～に伴って/伴い/伴う

along with ~, as ~ (changes)

Common in business Japanese.

JLPTBooks Editorial Team

Japanese Language Education Specialists

Last updated: Jan 2

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