「～かねる」- Expressing Difficulty or Inability

Explanation

「～かねる」 is used to express that one wants to do something but cannot, or finds it difficult to do so, often due to psychological reasons. For example, when declining a request or command, this expression can be used to convey refusal in a polite and indirect manner. Saying "できない" directly can come off as too blunt, while using 「～かねる」 is more courteous and tactful.

Grammar Pattern

Grammar Point	Connection	Explanation
Verb ます-stem + かねる	Verb ます-stem	Expresses "cannot," "find it difficult to," "hard to," or "unable to."

Examples

• 怪我けがした子猫こねこを見みに見みかねて、動物病院どうぶつびょういんへ連つれて行いった。
• Kega shita koneko o mi ni mi kanete, doubutsu byouin e tsurete itta.
• I couldn't bear to see the injured kitten, so I took it to the animal hospital.
  

• こちらとしては、それには賛成さんせいいたしかねます。
• Kochira to shite wa, sore ni wa sansei itashikane masu.
• We regret that we cannot agree to that.
  

• 確証かくしょうが無ないので判断はんだんしかねます。
• Kakushou ga nai node handan shikane masu.
• It's hard to make a judgment without concrete evidence.
  

• 詳くわしい事情じじょうは分わかりかねます。
• Kuwashii jijou wa wakari kane masu.
• It's difficult to understand the details.
  

• 専門家せんもんかではないので適切てきせつなアドバイスあどばいすはしかねます。
• Senmonka de wa nai node tekisetsu na adobaisu wa shikane masu.
• Since I'm not an expert, it's hard to give appropriate advice.
  

Deep Dive

「～かねる」 conveys an internal struggle, often used to decline requests or indicate an inability to meet certain expectations. When used, it reflects the speaker's politeness and humility. It's worth noting that 「～かねる」 is often combined with specific contexts, such as:

• In work settings, using 「～かねる」 to decline a client's request comes across as more courteous.
• In personal life, using 「～かねる」 can help avoid the awkwardness of a direct refusal.

Real-Life Scenarios

In real-life conversations, using 「～かねる」 makes the expression more polite and appropriate, especially in professional or formal settings.

• Scenario 1: Customer Service

  • 客きゃく：この商品しょうひんの返品へんぴんは可能かのうですか？
  • Kyaku: Kono shouhin no henpin wa kanou desu ka?
  • Customer: Is it possible to return this product?
    
  • 店員てんいん：申し訳もうしわけございませんが、使用しようした後あとの返品へんぴんはお受うけいたしかねます。
  • Tenin: Moushiwake gozaimasen ga, shiyou shita ato no henpin wa o uke itashikane masu.
  • Staff: We apologize, but we cannot accept returns of used products.
    

• Scenario 2: Business Meeting

  • 参加者さんかしゃ：この提案ていあんには賛成さんせいですか？
  • Sankasha: Kono teian ni wa sansei desu ka?
  • Participant: Do you agree with this proposal?
    
  • 責任者せきにんしゃ：申し訳もうしわけありませんが、現時点げんじてんでは賛成さんせいいたしかねます。
  • Sekininsha: Moushiwake arimasen ga, genjiten de wa sansei itashikane masu.
  • Manager: We apologize, but we cannot agree at this time.
    

Summary

「～かねる」 is a grammatical structure used to politely express refusal or psychological difficulty. It enhances the appropriateness of expression in both formal and everyday conversations.