かねる (kaneru)

Meaning & usage

かねる expresses that someone is unable to do something or finds it difficult to do because of circumstances, hesitation, or reluctance, and it is often used for soft, polite refusals in business settings. It attaches to the masu-stem of a verb, as in 答えかねます or しかねます, and かねる itself conjugates as an ichidan verb. It differs from potential forms like できない because it suggests situational difficulty or hesitation rather than physical inability, so it sounds formal and indirect.

Example sentences 3

1. その質問しつもんにつきましては、お答こたえいたしかねます。

   I can't answer that question.

2. この点については同意しかねます。

   I can't agree with you on this point.

3. 現状では、これ以上の値引きはいたしかねます。

   We cannot offer a further price reduction under the current circumstances.