〜かねる: meaning and usage

How to form it

• verb (masu-stem)+かねる
• verb (masu-stem)+かねます

How it is used

After the masu-stem: 'cannot (bring oneself to)…' for reasons of position or feeling. In business, 「〜かねます」 is a polite way to refuse, as in 「お答えしかねます」. 「〜かねない」 means something quite different.

Examples

1. 彼の無礼には我慢しかねます。

   I have trouble putting up with his rude manner.

2. 申し訳ございませんが、返品はお受けしかねます。

   We're very sorry, but we're unable to accept returns.

3. 友達の頼みなので、断りかねて引き受けてしまった。

   It was a friend asking, so I couldn't bring myself to say no and took it on.