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N2

かねる

Cannot, Be unable to, Hard to, Hesitant to

こういう場合ばあいでも返金へんきんはできかねます。

Even in situations like this we can't give you a refund.

Explanation

「かねる」 attaches to the verb stem. It looks positive but means 'cannot, find it hard to', a polite refusal. It is not about ability but about position, duty or privacy making it difficult: 「そのご提案には賛成しかねます」 (I am afraid I cannot agree with that proposal), 「お客様の個人情報はお答えしかねます」 (I am unable to give out customers' personal information), 「ご希望に添いかねます」 (I am afraid we cannot meet your request).

Mixed up with

「〜かねる」: positive in form, means 'cannot do'; a refusal.

「〜かねない」: negative in form, means 'may well happen' (something bad).

They look opposite and mean opposite; an easy trap on the exam.

Examples

  1. それはお客様きゃくさまのプライバシーに関かかわる情報じょうほうなのでお答こたえしかねます。

    That is information regarding our client's privacy so we cannot answer that.

  2. 「役者やくしゃになりたい」だなんて、賛成さんせいしかねる。

    Saying 'I want to be an actor'? I can't agree with that.

  3. 専門せんもん的てきなプログラムには対応たいおうし兼かねる。

    I cannot deal with a technical program.

Tested 3 times in past papers

N2 · Dec 2020, Q39N2 · Jul 2016, Q39N1 · Jul 2012, Q32