〜かねない (~kanenai) — might well (something bad)

A warning that 'this could well end badly' — 事故を起こしかねない (you could well cause an accident).

Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)

Verb Vます + かねない

Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)

When to use it

A friend is about to drive on no sleep — you warn them: 「寝不足で運転したら、事故を起こしかねないよ」(drive on no sleep and you could well cause an accident).

Meaning

「〜かねない」= 'something bad could well happen'.
It is a warning that, judging from the present state, this is where things are heading.

How to attach

ます-stem + かねない: 起こしかねない・言いかねない
Polite form かねません: 大きなクレームになりかねません
It often pairs with 「〜たら」「〜なら」: 「あの人なら言いかねない」.

Versus what you know

N4「かもしれない」only states a possibility; かねない is stronger and more objective.
Its twin 「〜かねる」= a polite 'I can't'; かねない = 'could well go badly' — similar shape, different meaning.

Watch out

It looks like the negative of かねる, but it does not mean 'cannot' — it means 'could well happen'.
Bad outcomes only — 「合格しかねない」✗.

Examples (उदाहरणहरू)

寝不足のまま運転したら、事故を起こしかねないよ。

ねぶそくのままうんてんしたら、じこをおこしかねないよ。

If you drive without enough sleep, you could well cause an accident.

How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 起こします = to cause → drop ます: 起こし → we attach 「かねない」 → a warning: "you might even cause an accident" → 「〜たら」 in front sets the condition — かねない often comes with たら・なら.

このままミスが続けば、大きなクレームになりかねません。

このままミスがつづけば、おおきなクレームになりかねません。

If these mistakes keep happening, it could well turn into a serious complaint.

How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) なります = to become → drop ます: なり → we attach 「かねません」, the polite form of かねない → a warning: "it could become a big complaint" → 〜ば in front sets the condition.

あの人なら、そんなうそも言いかねない。

あのひとなら、そんなうそもいいかねない。

That person might well tell a lie like that.

How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 言います = to say → drop ます: 言い → we attach 「かねない」 → a negative guess: "that person might even tell a lie like that" → 「〜なら」 in front gives the basis: "judging by that person's character".

Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)

Question: 1/3

「うわさがどんどん広まりかねない。」— what does it mean?

💡 Hint: かねない = a bad thing might well happen.