Newer
Japanese Onomatopoeia ①: Feelings with 「ワクワク・ドキドキ・キラキラ」
05/14/2026
<- Back to blog
Vague Expressions ⑨: How to Use 「〜かねません」
Kotoba Drill Editor
Today's theme
「〜かねません」 is an expression used to softly say that an undesirable result may happen.
Instead of saying directly, "This will become a problem" or "This is dangerous,"
it uses the form 「そうなりかねない（なる可能性がある）」 to call the other person's attention to a risk.
- 「このまま続けると、問題になりかねません。」 (If this continues, it may become a problem.)
- 「誤解を招きかねない表現は避けましょう。」 (Let's avoid expressions that may cause misunderstandings.)
Today, we learn what kinds of situations it fits and how to choose between similar expressions through examples.
The meaning and core idea of 「〜かねません」
「〜かねません」 expresses a negative possibility.
| Wording | What it suggests |
|---|---|
| 「〜になります。」 | Stating it as a fact. |
| 「〜になりかねません。」 | Softly warning that it may become that way. |
| 「〜かもしれません。」 | There is a possibility. It can be used for both good and bad things. |
The key feature of 「かねません」 is that it is used only for negative or undesirable content.
It is not used for a good result, as in 「うまくいきかねません」.
Important: 「〜かねます」 and 「〜かねません」 mean different things
「かねます」 and 「かねません」 look similar, but their meanings are completely different.
This is the most confusing point.
| Expression | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 「〜かねます」 | cannot do something, or it is difficult to do something. A polite refusal. | 「ご要望にはお答えかねます。」 |
| 「〜かねません」 | Something undesirable may happen. A warning. | 「このまま続けると問題になりかねません。」 |
「かねます」 is used when you politely say that you cannot do something.
「かねません」 is used when you warn about another person or a situation.
Examples:
- 「承認しかねます。」 (I cannot approve it.) ← cannot do it, refusal
- 「このまま進めると、後で問題になりかねません。」 (If we continue like this, a problem may happen later.) ← warning
If you remember this difference, you will not get confused when reading or using these forms.
Sentence form and how to build it
「かねません」 attaches after the polite verb stem, which is the 「ます」 form without 「ます」.
| Verb | 「ます」 stem | With 「かねません」 |
|---|---|---|
| 「なる」 | 「なり」 | 「なりかねません」 |
| 「招く」 | 「招き」 | 「招きかねません」 |
| 「壊す」 | 「壊し」 | 「壊しかねません」 |
| 「起こる」 | 「起こり」 | 「起こりかねません」 |
| 「広がる」 | 「広がり」 | 「広がりかねません」 |
Key point: the form is 「ます形＋かねません」. It changes like 「食べる」 → 「食べかねません」 and 「行く」 → 「行きかねません」.
Difference from 「〜かもしれません」
Both expressions show "possibility," but there is an important difference.
| Expression | Content | Formality |
|---|---|---|
| 「〜かもしれません」 | Can be used for both good and bad things | from conversation to formal situations |
| 「〜かねません」 | Used only for undesirable content | slightly formal, good for business |
Examples:
- 「明日は晴れるかもしれません。」 (It may be sunny tomorrow. A weather prediction. Neutral.)
- 「このままでは遅刻するかもしれません。」 (At this rate, we may be late. A neutral way to say the possibility.)
- 「このままでは遅刻になりかねません。」 (At this rate, we may end up being late. A warning about the possibility. More formal.)
「かねません」 has a stronger nuance of being aware of a problem and urging the other person to be careful.
Difference from 「〜おそれがあります」
「〜おそれがあります」 also expresses a negative possibility.
It is often used in news reports and official documents.
| Expression | Formality | Common scenes |
|---|---|---|
| 「〜かねません」 | medium to high | business, conversation, words of caution |
| 「〜おそれがあります」 | high, formal | news, weather information, official documents |
Examples:
- 「台風が接近するおそれがあります。」 (There is a risk that the typhoon will approach. News or weather information.)
- 「費用がさらに増えるかねません。」 (Costs may increase further. A caution in a meeting or business setting.)
「おそれがあります」 is the more formal expression.
In everyday business conversation, 「かねません」 usually sounds more natural.
Scene ①: when warning about problems or risks
Use it to softly communicate a problem you have noticed or a risk that may come from the situation.
- 「このペースでは、締め切りに間に合わなくなりかねません。」 (At this pace, we may miss the deadline.)
- 「その発言は、誤解を招きかねません。」 (That comment may cause misunderstanding.)
- 「無理を続けると、体を壊しかねません。」 (If you keep pushing yourself, you may harm your health.)
In this way, it is used when you tell someone that continuing as things are may lead to a bad result.
It sounds softer than directly saying, "This is a problem."
Scene ②: when giving caution in business or formal situations
It is useful for caution or advice in formal settings such as the workplace, meetings, and email.
- 「この手順を省くと、後でトラブルになりかねません。」 (If this step is skipped, it may cause trouble later.)
- 「確認なしに進めると、後から修正が必要になりかねません。」 (If we proceed without checking, corrections may be needed later.)
- 「ご連絡が遅れると、先方にご迷惑をおかけしかねません。」 (If our reply is delayed, it may inconvenience the other party.)
Using 「かねません」 lets you point out a problem politely without sounding too blaming.
It is easy to use when a manager gives advice to a team member, or when giving advice to a colleague.
Caution: do not use it for good results
「かねません」 is always used for negative or undesirable content.
Do not use it for good results or neutral topics.
| Situation | Natural expression | If you use 「かねません」, it sounds unnatural |
|---|---|---|
| possibility of success | 「うまくいくかもしれません。」 | ✗ 「うまくいきかねません。」 (The meaning goes the wrong way.) |
| dangerous possibility | 「事故が起きかねません。」 | ✅ 「事故が起きかねません。」 |
Also, it is not used much in casual speech with friends.
Because it sounds slightly formal, it is better suited to business and written language.
Where 「〜かねません」 fits and does not fit
| Fits | Does not fit |
|---|---|
| politely pointing out a problem in business | saying that a good result is possible |
| giving caution or warning in a formal situation | casual conversation with friends |
| communicating risk in an email or report | expressing a neutral possibility (→ 「かもしれません」) |
| saying that continuing this way will cause trouble | very official situations (→ 「おそれがあります」) |
Rephrasing options (kana（かな（ひらがなよみ））＋ IPA)
This is how to choose between 「かねません」 and similar expressions.
| Rephrase type | Goal | Example | Reading (kana（かな（ひらがなよみ））) | Pronunciation (IPA) | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warning about a negative possibility | Give caution about something undesirable | 「問題になりかねません。」 (It may become a problem.) | （もんだい に なり かね ません） | [mo̞nndai ni naɾi kane̞masɛɴ] | Softly expresses a negative possibility |
| Neutral possibility | Both good and bad possibilities | 「間に合わないかもしれません。」 (We may not make it in time.) | （ま に あわない かも しれません） | [ma ni awaɴai kamo̞ ɕiɾe̞masɛɴ] | Neutral. Can also be used for good cases |
| Polite refusal | Say that you cannot do something | 「お答えしかねます。」 (We are unable to answer.) | （おこたえ し かね ます） | [o̞ko̞tae̞ ɕi kaɴe̞masɯ] | Polite expression for 「できません」 |
| Public or official warning | Formal risk expression | 「事故が起こるおそれがあります。」 (There is a risk that an accident will happen.) | （じこ が おこる おそれ が あります） | [dʑiko̞ ɡa o̞ko̞ɾɯ o̞so̞ɾe̞ ɡa aɾimasɯ] | Suitable for news and official documents |
| Strong negative certainty | State firmly that something is impossible | 「そんなことになるはずがありません。」 (There is no way it will become like that.) | （そんな こと に なる はず が ありません） | [so̞nna ko̞to̞ ni naɾɯ hazɯ ɡa aɾimasɛɴ] | Evidence-based denial |
Note
IPA is approximate. Vowel length and the sound of 「ん」 vary by speaker. Check together with kana.
Practical switching examples (daily life and work｜kana（かな（ひらがなよみ））＋ IPA)
If you choose 「かねません」 according to the scene, your message becomes easier to understand.
| Scene | Intention | Better wording | Reading (kana（かな（ひらがなよみ））) | Pronunciation (IPA) | Point |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daily life (health) | Pushing too hard is not good for your body | 「無理をすると体を壊しかねません。」 (If you push yourself too hard, you may harm your health.) | （むり を すると からだ を こわし かね ません） | [mɯɾi o̞ sɯɾɯto̞ kaɾada o̞ ko̞waɕi kane̞masɛɴ] | Concern or warning for the other person |
| Daily life (relationships) | The wording may sound too harsh | 「その言い方では、傷つけかねません。」 (That way of saying it may hurt someone.) | （その いい かた で は きずつけ かね ません） | [so̞no̞ iikata de̞ wa kizɯtsɯke̞ kane̞masɛɴ] | Give caution gently |
| School (study) | At this pace, the exam is at risk | 「このペースでは、試験に落ちかねません。」 (At this pace, you may fail the exam.) | （この ペース で は しけん に おち かね ません） | [ko̞no̞ peːsɯ de̞ wa ɕike̞ɴ ni o̞tɕi kane̞masɛɴ] | Warning based on the situation |
| School (presentation) | If the explanation is not enough, the message will not get across | 「説明が少ないと、誤解を招きかねません。」 (If the explanation is too limited, it may cause misunderstanding.) | （せつめい が すくない と ごかい を まねき かね ません） | [se̞tsɯme̞i ɡa sɯkɯnai to̞ ɡo̞kai o̞ maneki kane̞masɛɴ] | Communicate a specific risk |
| Work (checking) | If you do not check, it may cause trouble later | 「確認を省くと、後でトラブルになりかねません。」 (If the check is skipped, it may cause trouble later.) | （かくにん を はぶく と あと で トラブル に なり かね ません） | [kakɯniɴ o̞ habɯkɯ to̞ ato̞ de̞ to̞ɾabɯɾɯ ni naɾi kane̞masɛɴ] | Show the importance of the procedure |
| Work (email) | A late reply would be rude to the other party | 「ご返信が遅れると、ご迷惑をおかけしかねません。」 (If our reply is delayed, it may inconvenience the other party.) | （ごへんしん が おくれると ごめいわく を おかけ し かね ません） | [ɡo̞he̞nɕiɴ ɡa o̞kɯɾɯto̞ ɡo̞me̞iwakɯ o̞ o̞kake̞ ɕi kane̞masɛɴ] | Polite wording for business email |
Small tips to make your message clearer
1) Add one short reason before it
If you give a reason before 「かねません」, the basis for the warning becomes clear.
- 「このペースでは」 → 「締め切りに間に合わなくなりかねません。」
- 「確認しないまま進めると」 → 「後でミスが起きかねません。」
The sentence sounds natural when you put expressions such as 「〜と」, 「〜では」, or 「〜ままでは」 before it.
2) Rephrase it more softly in conversation
In conversation with friends or family, 「かねません」 sounds a little stiff.
- ✅ business email: 「問題になりかねません。」
- ✅ to a friend: 「問題になるかもしれないよ。」
If you switch to 「かもしれません」 depending on the situation, it sounds more natural.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
| Common sentence | What is the issue? | Fix (example) |
|---|---|---|
| 「うまくいきかねません。」 | 「かねません」 is not used for good results | 「うまくいくかもしれません。」 |
| 「問題になるかねません。」 | 「plain verb form＋かねません」 is incorrect | 「問題になりかねません。」 (from the 「ます」 stem) |
| 「お答えしかねません。」 | For a refusal, use 「かねます」 | 「お答えしかねます。」 |
| 「少し遅れかねません。」 (in a neutral situation) | Being a little late can be neutral. Use this only in a negative context | 「少し遅れるかもしれません。」 |
Summary
「〜かねません」 is useful for:
- softly expressing the possibility that something undesirable may happen
- giving caution or warning in business and formal situations
- attaching 「かねません」 to the 「ます」 stem of a verb
On the other hand, be careful about these points:
- do not use it for the possibility of a good result
- do not mix it up with 「かねます（断り）」
- it fits formal situations better than casual conversation
When you want to say that there may be a problem,
use 「〜かもしれません」 in everyday conversation,
「〜かねません」 in business or polite situations,
and 「〜おそれがあります」 in news or official documents.
Choose the expression that fits the situation and build natural Japanese.
