「かねる」- Expressing Difficulty in Doing Something

Explanation

Grammar Point: 〜かねる

• Pronunciation: [かねる]
• Connection: Verb ます-stem + かねる
• Main Meaning: "Hard to...", "Difficult to..."

Grammar Pattern

Grammar Point	Connection	Explanation
〜かねる	Verb ます-stem + かねる	Used to express that something is difficult to do, often in polite or formal situations, or to decline a request indirectly.

Basic Usage

〜かねる is attached to the ます-stem of a verb to express difficulty in doing something. The basic connection is as follows:

• Verb ます-stem + かねる

Examples:

• 答こたえかねる (Hard to answer)
• 分わかりかねる (Hard to understand)
• 断ことわりかねる (Hard to refuse)

Examples

• 面接めんせつ試験しけんでは、どんな質問しつもんが出でるのかと聞きかれたが、そのようなことを聞きかれても、ちょっと答こたえかねる。
• Mensetsu shiken de wa, donna shitsumon ga deru no ka to kikareta ga, sono you na koto o kikarete mo, chotto kotae kaneru.
• Someone asked me what kind of questions would be asked in the interview, but it's hard for me to answer such a question.
  

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

• 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 itashikanemasu.
• We find it difficult to agree with that.
  

Deep Dive

〜かねる not only expresses difficulty in doing something but also implies a psychological or emotional barrier. For example, when answering a question, it might be used when the speaker is uncertain or unwilling to disclose information. This expression is more polite and indirect than simply saying "can't."

Detailed Usage and Applications

Polite Refusal

In formal situations, 〜かねる can be used to avoid directly refusing a request or question, making the response more polite and tactful. For example:

• ご意見いけんは承うけたまわりましたが、同意どういしかねます。
• Go iken wa uketamawarimashita ga, doui shikanemasu.
• We have heard your opinion, but we find it difficult to agree.
  

Emotional Barrier

When the speaker is unable to perform an action due to emotional or psychological reasons, 〜かねる can be used. For example:

• 仕事しごとを辞やめて無職むしょくになるか、それとも転職てんしょくして働はたらき続つづけるかを決きめかねている。
• Shigoto o yamete mushoku ni naru ka, sore tomo tenshoku shite hataraki tsuzukeru ka o kimekanete iru.
• I can't decide whether to quit my job and become unemployed or switch jobs and continue working.
  

Comparison and Differences

〜かねる vs. 〜がたい

Both 〜かねる and 〜がたい mean "hard to...", but they are used differently.

• 〜かねる is often used when the difficulty arises from psychological or emotional reasons.
• 〜がたい is used when the difficulty is due to objective conditions.

Expression	Usage	Example	English Translation
〜かねる	Psychological or emotional reasons	その提案ていあんには賛成さんせいしかねる。	It's hard to agree with the proposal due to psychological reasons.
〜がたい	Objective conditions	信しんじがたい話はなしです。	It's hard to believe due to objective reasons.

Real-Life Scenarios

Here are some examples in real-life scenarios:

• 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はしかねます。
• Senmonka de wa nai node tekisetsu na adobaisu wa shikanemasu.
• Since I'm not an expert, it's hard to give appropriate advice.
  

• その質問しつもんには答こたえかねます。
• Sono shitsumon ni wa kotae kanemasu.
• It's hard to answer that question.
  

• 明日あしたは休館日きゅうかんびです。終日しゅうじつお電話でんわでのお問い合わせといあわせ等もお受うけしかねますので、お気きを付つけください。
• Ashita wa kyuukanbi desu. Shuujitsu o denwa de no o toiawase nado mo o uke shikanemasu node, o ki o tsukete kudasai.
• Tomorrow is a closed day, and we will not be able to accept phone inquiries throughout the day, so please take note.
  

Summary

〜かねる is a highly practical and polite expression, especially useful in formal situations or when declining requests tactfully. Mastering this grammar point can enhance the politeness and appropriateness of your Japanese communication.