「〜かねない」: When you have a bad feeling about something 😥

If you've lived in Japan for a long time, you're surely used to indirect expressions and vague ways of speaking. But there are times when you need to issue a warning, a prediction about a not-so-good outcome.

Instead of bluntly saying "Something bad is going to happen!", the Japanese have a much more refined expression: 「〜かねない」 (kanenai).

This isn't a random guess, but a well-founded warning based on the current situation.

What is 「〜かねない」?

Simply put, it means "there is a risk/possibility (that something bad will happen)".

The super simple formula is:

Verb (stem form, drop ます) + かねない

The 'money' 💰 part of this pattern is that it is always associated with a negative outcome. You will never hear a Japanese person say 「彼は試験に合格しかねない」(He is at risk of passing the exam)!

How to use it in real life?

Let's look at a few examples to get a better 'feel' for it:

1. At work 🏢

Seeing your colleague B working carelessly, you might think to yourself or say to another colleague:

「彼のやり方だと、大きなミスをしかねないよね。」 (With his way of doing things, there's a risk he could make a big mistake, don't you think?)

👉 Analysis: Based on the "careless way of doing things" (cause), you predict a "big mistake" (bad outcome). A gentle but weighty warning.

2. When worrying about friends 👫

Seeing your best friend partying every night, you might advise:

「そんなに毎晩遊んでいたら、体を壊しかねないよ。」 (If you keep partying every night like that, you could ruin your health.)

👉 Analysis: This isn't a judgment, but a sincere concern based on an ongoing reality.

3. When talking about social situations ⚠️

Hearing a controversial statement, you might comment:

「あの政治家の発言は、国民の誤解を招きかねない。」 (That politician's statement runs the risk of causing misunderstanding among the public.)

Quick distinction: 〜かねない vs. 〜かもしれない

This is where many people get confused!

• 〜かもしれない (kamoshirenai): Is neutral. It can be used for good, bad, or neutral outcomes.

  • Example: 明日は雨が降るかもしれない。(It might rain tomorrow.) -> Just a weather forecast.

• 〜かねない (kanenai): ⚠️ Only used for negative outcomes. It carries a nuance of warning or concern that something undesirable might happen.

  • Example: このままでは事故を起こしかねない。(At this rate, there's a risk of causing an accident.) -> Clearly a bad premonition.

In summary 💡

「〜かねない」 is an extremely useful linguistic 'weapon' that helps you elevate your expressive abilities. It not only shows your ability to assess situations but also demonstrates subtlety in giving warnings.

Next time you have a bad feeling about something, try using「〜かねない」. The listener will surely realize you're not just an average Japanese speaker! 😉