かねる (kaneru)

Meaning & usage

かねる attaches to a masu-stem (verb stem) and means the action is impossible or very hard to do, often as a polite way to refuse or decline. It appears in formal speech and writing, frequently as しかねる or いたしかねる, and can also follow nouns like 決めかねる to mean unable to decide.

Example sentences 6

1. その申もうし出ではお受うけしかねる。

   I spurn your offer.

2. こういう事情ですから、残念ながら、せっかくのご招待をお受けいたしかねるのです。

   As such is the case, I am sorry I can't accept your kind invitation.

3. その点は賛成しかねる。

   I am unable to agree on that point.

4. 一年間で浪費するはした金がいくらになるか、だれにも決めかねる。

   No one can determine the amount of money we waste in a year.

5. 彼女の態度は少々腹にすえかねる。

   I find her manner a little hard to take.

6. 「お前料理できるの？」「一応できるよ。味は保証しかねるけど」

   "Can you cook?" "More or less. I can't guarantee it'll taste good though."