〜かねない (kanenai)

JLPT N2 It could well (turn out badly) …

Meaning

“Might well ~ / could end up ~.” A bad thing is a real possibility. Used only for negative outcomes.

Formation

Verb (masu-stem) + かねない

Examples

そんなに無理をすると、体をこわしかねない。

Sonna ni muri o suru to, karada o kowashi kanenai. — If you push yourself that hard, you could well ruin your health.

その発言は誤解を招きかねない。

Sono hatsugen wa gokai o maneki kanenai. — That remark could well invite misunderstanding.

準備を怠ると、失敗しかねない。

Junbi o okotaru to, shippai shi kanenai. — If you neglect preparation, you might well fail.

How it works

It warns that a negative result is possible, even likely. The speaker is concerned about a risk.

Its opposite, 〜かねる, means “cannot (bring oneself to) do ~” — a totally different meaning despite the similar look.

Compared with similar expressions

• 〜かねない — “might well (badly),” a worrying possibility

• 〜かねる — “cannot do ~,” unable/unwilling (opposite look)

• 〜おそれがある — “there is a risk of ~,” formal warning

Common mistakes

• Only for bad outcomes — don't say 成功しかねない.

• Don't confuse with 〜かねる (cannot do): 分かりかねます = I'm unable to tell.

Related grammar

• 〜かねる — cannot bring oneself to ~

• 〜おそれがある — there is a risk of ~

• 〜かもしれない — might ~ (neutral)