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Formation: V-ます stem + かねる; polite かねます／いたしかねます; 見かねて (unable to stand by and watch)

〜かねる means one cannot do something because of circumstances, principles or one's feelings, even though one might want to or is being asked to. It is not about lacking ability: you cannot say 泳ぎかねる for 'can't swim'. In business and customer service, 〜かねます and いたしかねます are standard polite ways of refusing without saying ない directly. It also expresses inner hesitation, as in 決めかねる (can't make up one's mind). In the fixed phrase 見るに見かねて or 見かねて, someone can no longer just watch and steps in. Do not confuse it with 〜かねない, which means 'could well happen'. Compared with 〜わけにはいかない (can't because of social or moral reasons) and 〜ようがない (there is no way or means), かねる sounds more polite and softer.

Variants: かねます、いたしかねます、見かねて、決めかねる

Examples

• 申し訳ございませんが、そのご要望にはお応えしかねます。
  We are very sorry, but we are unable to meet that request.
• どちらの案も一長一短で、なかなか決めかねている。
  Both plans have pros and cons, and I'm struggling to decide.
• 困っている様子を見かねて、隣の人が手を貸してくれた。
  Unable to just watch me struggling, the person next to me lent a hand.

In real texts 0 occurrence(s)

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