目錄
Japanese 「〜かねない」 indicates that something undesirable may actually happen, and it usually carries a tone of warning or caution. Although it contains 「ない」 at the end, it does not mean “cannot.” For example, 「問題になりかねない」 actually means “it may become a problem.” This pattern often appears in business communication, news commentary, and safety warnings. 「〜かもしれない」 and 「おそれがある」 can also both be translated as “may” or “might,” but they reflect different perspectives. Comparing their negative nuance, attachment rules, and similar patterns together makes it easier to judge which one is appropriate when you encounter them in actual sentences.
What Does Japanese 「〜かねない」 Mean? Understanding Its Negative Risk Nuance
Although 「〜かねない」 contains 「ない」 on the surface, it does not mean “cannot.” It is formed by taking the verb’s ます-form, removing 「ます」, and adding 「かねない」. It indicates that something may happen and that the result is usually undesirable. The pattern itself carries an element of risk assessment.
Therefore, 「問題になりかねない」 does not mean “cannot become a problem,” but rather “may become a problem.” If you are simply making a neutral guess, 「〜かもしれない」 is enough. If you want to express an undesirable possibility, a warning, or a formal risk, 「〜かねない」 is appropriate.
How to Attach 「〜かねない」: Forming It from the Verb’s ます-Form
「〜かねない」 attaches to the verb’s ます-form after removing 「ます」. Common combinations include 「なりかねない」「招きかねない」「失いかねない」「つながりかねない」「誤解されかねない」. What follows is often a negative result such as an accident, loss, misunderstanding, problem, or criticism.
| Verb | ます-Form | 「〜かねない」 Form | Meaning |
| なる | なります | なりかねない | may become |
| 招く | 招きます | 招きかねない | may cause / invite |
| 失う | 失います | 失いかねない | may lose |
| つながる | つながります | つながりかねない | may lead to |
「〜かねない」 Usage ①｜Warning That Something May Lead to a Negative Result
The most common use of 「〜かねない」 is to warn that a certain action or situation may bring about an undesirable consequence. It is not a neutral prediction; it carries a sense of warning, concern, or risk assessment. It is common in contexts involving traffic, safety, health, and work procedures.
- Example: このままでは大きな事故につながりかねません。
Kana: このままでは おおきな じこに つながりかねません。
Translation: If things continue like this, it may lead to a serious accident.
「つながりかねません」 indicates that there is a risk of an undesirable result occurring, and it sounds formal and strong. - Example: 小さなミスが大きな問題になりかねません。
Kana: ちいさな ミスが おおきな もんだいに なりかねません。
Translation: A small mistake may turn into a major problem.
This sentence warns that if a small mistake is not dealt with, it may escalate into a serious problem. - Example: 無理な運転は命を失いかねない行為です。
Kana: むりな うんてんは いのちを うしないかねない こういです。
Translation: Reckless driving is an act that may cost you your life.
「失いかねない」 carries a strong warning and sounds more serious than an ordinary statement of possibility.
「〜かねない」 Usage ②｜Formally Pointing Out Risk and Responsibility
「〜かねない」 often appears in business, regulations, announcements, and news commentary to indicate that a decision, statement, or way of handling something may create a risk. These sentences often have an objective, analytical tone, but they contain a clear negative prediction underneath.
- Example: 不十分な説明は誤解を招きかねません。
Kana: ふじゅうぶんな せつめいは ごかいを まねきかねません。
Translation: An insufficient explanation may cause misunderstanding.
「招きかねません」 is commonly used in formal warnings to point out the risk caused by inadequate explanation. - Example: 対応が遅れると、信頼を失いかねません。
Kana: たいおうが おくれると、しんらいを うしないかねません。
Translation: If the response is delayed, you may lose trust.
This is suitable for business situations and highlights the connection between response speed and the risk of losing trust. - Example: その発言は批判を受けかねない内容です。
Kana: その はつげんは ひはんを うけかねない ないようです。
Translation: That statement contains content that may attract criticism.
「受けかねない」 indicates that receiving criticism is a real possibility and that it would be an undesirable result.
「〜かねない」 Usage ③｜Negative Predictions in News and Commentary
In news reports, editorials, and commentary, 「〜かねない」 is often used to predict that something may trigger a larger problem. It is more formal and more risk-oriented than 「〜かもしれない」. This usage often appears together with words such as 「事態」「影響」「混乱」「問題」.
- Example: この決定は社会に大きな影響を与えかねません。
Kana: この けっていは しゃかいに おおきな えいきょうを あたえかねません。
Translation: This decision may have a major impact on society.
「与えかねません」 makes the impact sound negative and adds a tone of caution. - Example: 情報不足はさらなる混乱を生みかねません。
Kana: じょうほうぶそくは さらなる こんらんを うみかねません。
Translation: A lack of information may create further confusion.
This type of sentence is common in commentary or reporting and points out the chain of risks caused by insufficient information. - Example: 判断を誤れば、状況を悪化させかねません。
Kana: はんだんを あやまれば、じょうきょうを あっかさせかねません。
Translation: If the judgment is wrong, it may worsen the situation.
「悪化させかねません」 indicates that a mistaken judgment may lead to an even worse result.
Complete Comparison: 「〜かねない」「〜かもしれない」 and 「おそれがある」
「〜かもしれない」 expresses neutral possibility and can be used for good things, bad things, or ordinary guesses. 「〜かねない」 is mainly used for negative outcomes and carries a warning tone. 「おそれがある」 also indicates a negative possibility, but it is more formal, written, and objective, and is often used in news reports, reports, or official explanations.
| Comparison Item | 〜かねない | 〜かもしれない | おそれがある |
| Nuance | negative risk, warning | neutral possibility | formal, objective risk |
| Typical Context | commentary, business, warnings | everyday guesses | news, reports, announcements |
| Can It Be Used for Good Things? | usually unnatural | yes | usually not used |
| Example | 問題になりかねない | 雨が降るかもしれない | 被害が出るおそれがある |
▌Use 「〜かもしれない」 for General Possibility: Both Good and Bad Outcomes Are Possible
❌ Unnatural: 明日は晴れかねません。
✅ Natural: 明日は晴れるかもしれません。
Sunny weather is not a negative risk, so an ordinary prediction should simply use 「かもしれない」.
▌Use 「〜かねない」 for Negative Risk: It Adds Warning and Concern
❌ Weaker tone: このミスは大きな問題になるかもしれません。
✅ Stronger: このミスは大きな問題になりかねません。
When you want to emphasize a warning about risk, 「かねない」 has a stronger sense of formal caution.
▌Use 「おそれがある」 for Official Risk Statements: Objective Written Style
❌ Slightly conversational: 大雨で被害が出かねません。
✅ Formal: 大雨で被害が出るおそれがあります。
In official announcements or disaster-related explanations, 「おそれがある」 is more objective and formal.
Difference Between 「〜かねない」 and 「〜かねる」: Something May Happen vs. Something Is Difficult to Do
Both 「〜かねる」 and 「〜かねない」 attach to the verb’s ます-form after 「ます」 is removed, but they are not simply affirmative and negative versions of the same pattern. 「〜かねる」 means that something is difficult to do because of one’s position, judgment, or psychological factors, and it is often used in business as a polite way to refuse. 「〜かねない」, on the other hand, means that an undesirable event may occur and carries a tone of warning or concern.
| Comparison Item | 〜かねない | 〜かねる |
| Basic Meaning | a bad result may occur | difficult to do under the circumstances |
| Nuance | negative possibility, risk | polite refusal, difficulty carrying something out |
| Attachment | verb ます-form without 「ます」＋かねない | verb ます-form without 「ます」＋かねる |
| Example | 問題になりかねない | 同意しかねる |
▌Use 「〜かねる」 for Difficulty: A Formal Way to Refuse or Withhold Agreement
△ Direct: そのご要望には対応できません。
✅ Polite: そのご要望には対応いたしかねます。
Both sentences mean that the request cannot be accommodated, but 「対応いたしかねます」 is more indirect and is often used in customer service, business emails, and formal replies. 「〜かねる」 usually does not simply mean a lack of ability; rather, it indicates that because of company policy, one’s position, or the information currently available, it is difficult to agree or make a judgment.
▌Use 「〜かねない」 for Negative Risk: It Indicates That an Undesirable Result May Occur
△ Neutral prediction: このままでは大きな問題になるかもしれません。
✅ Risk warning: このままでは大きな問題になりかねません。
Both sentences mean that it may become a major problem, but 「なりかねません」 more clearly carries a warning and suggests that if the current situation does not change, an undesirable result may follow.
▌「〜かねない」 Is Not the Ordinary Negative Form of 「〜かねる」
❌ Misunderstanding: その件には同意しかねません。＝It is difficult to agree to that matter.
✅ Correct: その件には同意しかねます。＝It is difficult to agree to that matter.
Even though 「〜かねる」 does not contain 「ない」, the pattern itself already means “to find it difficult to do something.” Changing it to 「〜かねない」 does not simply negate that meaning; instead, it becomes a fixed pattern meaning “something may happen.” To express difficulty in agreeing, use 「同意しかねます」. To warn that something may cause confusion, use 「混乱を招きかねません」.
「〜かねない」 in Japanese Business and News: Three Formal Warning Situations
「〜かねない」 is common in Japanese business and news writing because it can express a warning in a relatively objective way. It does not sound like an emotional complaint, but it clearly communicates risk. It can be used in meetings, reports, news commentary, complaint handling, and safety warnings.
▌Situation ①｜Warning That a Small Error May Become a Bigger Problem
A：この数字、少し違うだけですね。
この すうじ、すこし ちがうだけですね。
This number is only slightly different, right?
B：小さな差でも、大きな問題になりかねません。
ちいさな さでも、おおきな もんだいに なりかねません。
Even a small difference may become a major problem.
📌 Grammar Point: 「なりかねません」 is used to formally warn about a potential risk.
▌Situation ②｜Risk in Client Communication
A：説明はこれで十分でしょうか。
せつめいは これで じゅうぶんでしょうか。
Is this explanation sufficient?
B：もう少し詳しくしないと、誤解を招きかねません。
もうすこし くわしくしないと、ごかいを まねきかねません。
If we do not explain it in a little more detail, it may cause misunderstanding.
📌 Grammar Point: 「招きかねません」 is often used to formally point out a communication risk.
▌Situation ③｜A News-Commentary-Style Warning
A：情報が足りないまま判断してもいいでしょうか。
じょうほうが たりないまま はんだんしても いいでしょうか。
Is it all right to make a judgment while information is still insufficient?
B：それは混乱を生みかねない判断です。
それは こんらんを うみかねない はんだんです。
That is a judgment that may create confusion.
📌 Grammar Point: 「生みかねない」 indicates that a certain judgment may trigger a negative result.
Cultural Notes:
- 「〜かねない」 is common in formal warnings and sounds more forceful than the everyday 「かもしれない」.
- It is usually not used for positive outcomes. An expression such as 「成功しかねない」 sounds unnatural unless success itself is being treated as a negative risk in that context.
- In business situations, using 「〜かねません」 allows you to point out a problem politely but clearly, without sounding as harsh as direct criticism.
How to Understand Japanese 「〜かねない」 Compared with Korean 「-ㄹ/을 수 있다」 and 「-ㄹ/을 우려가 있다」
◆ Similar Grammar: Korean 「-ㄹ/을 수 있다」「-ㄹ/을 우려가 있다」
Korean 「-ㄹ/을 수 있다」 expresses possibility and can be neutral or negative. 「-ㄹ/을 우려가 있다」 means that there is concern or risk that something may happen, making it closer to the formal risk nuance of Japanese 「〜かねない」 or 「おそれがある」.
- Example: 작은 실수가 큰 문제가 될 수 있어요.
Romanization: ja-geun sil-su-ga keun mun-je-ga doel su i-sseo-yo
Translation: A small mistake may become a big problem.
「될 수 있어요」 can express possibility, but the negative nuance has to come from the content and context. - Example: 설명이 부족하면 오해를 부를 수 있어요.
Romanization: seol-myeong-i bu-jo-ka-myeon o-hae-reul bu-reul su i-sseo-yo
Translation: If the explanation is insufficient, it may cause misunderstanding.
This sentence can correspond to Japanese 「誤解を招きかねません」. - Example: 정보 부족은 혼란을 낳을 우려가 있어요.
Romanization: jeong-bo bu-jo-geun hol-la-neul na-eul u-ryeo-ga i-sseo-yo
Translation: A lack of information may cause confusion.
「우려가 있다」 is a relatively formal expression of risk and is close to 「おそれがある」.
◆ Core Difference from 「〜かねない」:
Japanese 「〜かねない」 inherently tends toward a negative risk meaning. When Korean uses 「-ㄹ/을 수 있다」, the negative nuance needs to be conveyed by the context. For a more formal way to express risk, Korean often uses 「우려가 있다」.
Japanese 「〜かねない」 does not express ordinary possibility. Rather, it indicates that if things continue in their current direction, an undesirable result may occur. Ordinary guesses are more often expressed with 「〜かもしれない」, while news reports, announcements, and objective risk statements commonly use 「おそれがある」. 「〜かねる」 has a completely different meaning: it indicates that doing something is difficult because of one’s position or circumstances. When reading news or business writing, looking at whether words such as accidents, losses, misunderstandings, criticism, or confusion appear after the expression can help you identify the nuance of 「〜かねない」.
FAQs
「〜かねない」 means that something may happen, usually with an undesirable result. It is often used for risk warnings, formal cautions, or negative predictions.
It attaches to the verb’s ます-form after removing 「ます」, for example 「なる→なりかねない」「招く→招きかねない」「失う→失いかねない」.
No. Although it contains 「ない」, it does not mean “cannot”; it means “may.” For example, 「問題になりかねない」 means “it may become a problem.”
「〜かもしれない」 expresses neutral possibility, while 「〜かねない」 tends to indicate negative risk and often carries a warning or formal cautionary tone.
Usually, it sounds unnatural. It is mainly used for negative outcomes such as accidents, losses, misunderstandings, problems, and criticism. For the possibility of a positive outcome, 「〜かもしれない」 is more natural.