賞味（しょうみ）期限切（きげんぎ）れの食品（しょくひん）は、<span class='vocab-popout' data-vocab-id='274'>下痢（げり）</span>の原因（げんいん）にな<span class = 'chui'>り</span><strong>かねない</strong>。

<span class='gp-popout vocab-popout' data-gp-id='30' data-vocab-id='91'>この</span><span class='vocab-popout' data-vocab-id='789'>犬（いぬ）</span>に噛（か）まれたら、大（おお）怪我（けが）を<span class = 'chui'><span class='gp-popout vocab-popout' data-vocab-id='138' data-gp-id='22'>し</span></span><strong>かねない</strong>。

<span class='gp-popout vocab-popout' data-gp-id='30' data-vocab-id='91'>この</span><span class='vocab-popout' data-vocab-id='288'>事（こと）</span>を<span class='gp-popout vocab-popout' data-gp-id='37' data-vocab-id='148'>その</span>ままにしていたら、摩擦（まさつ）を生（う）<span class = 'chui'>み</span><strong>かねない</strong>。

<span class='gp-popout vocab-popout' data-gp-id='47' data-vocab-id='9'>あの</span>財閥（ざいばつ）は、目的（もくてき）を達（たっ）<span class='vocab-popout' data-vocab-id='138'>する</span>ためなら他人（たにん）などかまわず<span class='vocab-popout' data-vocab-id='334'>何（なん）</span><span class='vocab-popout' data-vocab-id='166'>でも</span>や<span class = 'chui'>り</span><strong>かねない</strong>。

<span class='vocab-popout' data-vocab-id='412'>危険（きけん）</span>な<span class='vocab-popout' data-vocab-id='1010'>運転（うんてん）</span>をすれば、事故（じこ）が起（お）こ<span class = 'chui'>り</span><strong>かねない</strong>。

<span class='gp-popout vocab-popout' data-gp-id='30' data-vocab-id='91'>この</span>ま<span class='gp-popout vocab-popout' data-gp-id='360' data-vocab-id='992'>まで</span>は以前（いぜん）と<span class='vocab-popout' data-vocab-id='429'>同（おな）じ</span>パターンにな<span class='chui'>り</span><strong>かねない</strong>から、<span class='vocab-popout' data-vocab-id='236'>もっと</span>工夫（くふう）してください。

<span class='gp-popout vocab-popout' data-gp-id='47' data-vocab-id='9'>あの</span>様子（ようす）だと自殺（じさつ）<span class='chui'><span class='gp-popout vocab-popout' data-vocab-id='138' data-gp-id='22'>し</span></span><strong>かねない</strong>。踏切（ふみきり）の方（ほう）に行（い）かないように見守（みまも）ってください。

<span class='vocab-popout' data-vocab-id='564'>彼（かれ）</span>は<span class='vocab-popout' data-vocab-id='439'>問題（もんだい）</span>を増（ふ）や<span class='chui'><span class='gp-popout vocab-popout' data-vocab-id='138' data-gp-id='22'>し</span></span><strong>かねない</strong>から、<span class='gp-popout vocab-popout' data-gp-id='714' data-vocab-id='964'>誰（だれ）</span>かちゃんとアドバイスしてください。

<span class='gp-popout vocab-popout' data-gp-id='30' data-vocab-id='91'>この</span>暑（あつ）さでマラソン大会（たいかい）を行（おこ）なったら、死者（ししゃ）も<span class='chui'>で</span><strong>かねない</strong>。

<span class='gp-popout vocab-popout' data-gp-id='30' data-vocab-id='91'>この</span>程度（ていど）の怪我（けが）<span class='vocab-popout' data-vocab-id='166'>でも</span>、ウイルスに感染（かんせん）<span class = 'chui'><span class='gp-popout vocab-popout' data-vocab-id='138' data-gp-id='22'>し</span></span><strong>かねない</strong>。

灯油（とうゆ）の保管（ほかん）をちゃんとしないと、火事（かじ）にな<span class='chui'>り</span><strong>かねない</strong>。

<span class='gp-popout vocab-popout' data-gp-id='30' data-vocab-id='91'>この</span>書類（しょるい）を開示（かいじ）されてはスキャンダルが 起（お）<span class = 'chui'>き</span><strong>かねない</strong>から、処分（しょぶん）<span class='vocab-popout' data-vocab-id='138'>する</span><span class='vocab-popout' data-vocab-id='577'>必要（ひつよう）</span>があります。

Expressing what cannot be done with 「～かねる」

<div class='writeup-body'>The negative form of the る-Verb <span class='gp-popout' data-gp-id='542'>兼（か）ねる</span> 'to spread across' (usually 2 different activities or thought processes) is a grammar pattern that indicates a possibility of (A) happening, especially when it is something that the speaker themselves cannot control. <span class='gp-popout' data-gp-id='565'>兼（か）ねない</span> is often translated as 'might (A)', 'capable of (A)', or '(A) is a possibility'.<br>This structure will be seen connected to the ます-stem of verbs, or after nouns followed by に. Both the kanji and non-kanji forms may be used.<ul class='writeup-examples--holder'><li class='writeup-example'><div class='writeup-example--japanese'>それは命（いのち）を落（お）とし<span class='gp-popout' data-gp-id='565'>かねない</span>感染症（かんせんしょう）らしい。</div><div class='writeup-example--english'>Apparently that is an infectious disease that could lead to death.</div></li><li class='writeup-example'><div class='writeup-example--japanese'>地震（じしん）の後（あと）には津波（つなみ）が起（お）こり<span class='gp-popout' data-gp-id='565'>かねない</span>ので、出来（でき）るだけ早（はや）く避難（ひなん）しましょう。</div><div class='writeup-example--english'>A tsunami might follow an earthquake so try to evacuate as soon as possible.</div></li><li class='writeup-example'><div class='writeup-example--japanese'>ベッドでの喫煙（きつえん）は火災（かさい）になり<span class='gp-popout' data-gp-id='565'>かねない</span>のでご遠慮（えんりょ）ください。</div><div class='writeup-example--english'>Please refrain from smoking on the bed as it might cause a fire.</div></li><li class='writeup-example'><div class='writeup-example--japanese'>仕事（しこと）のやりすぎは、鬱（うつ）の原因（げんいん）になり<span class='gp-popout' data-gp-id='565'>かねない</span>。</div><div class='writeup-example--english'>Working too much could be a cause of depression.</div></li></ul>It is quite common to see <span class='gp-popout' data-gp-id='565'>兼（か）ねない</span> come after conditional phrases that include と, ば, たら, でも, and similar structures. This indicates that 'if (A) were to happen, (B) may also occur'.<ul class='writeup-examples--holder'><li class='writeup-example'><div class='writeup-example--japanese'>操作（そうさ）を間違（まちが）えれば怪我人（けがにん）が出（で）<span class='gp-popout' data-gp-id='565'>かねない</span>。</div><div class='writeup-example--english'>If you operate it wrong, it could cause injuries.</div></li><li class='writeup-example'><div class='writeup-example--japanese'>どんなに注意（ちゅうい）をしていても、事故（じこ）は起（お）こり<span class='gp-popout' data-gp-id='565'>かねない</span>。</div><div class='writeup-example--english'>No matter how careful you are, accidents might happen.</div></li></ul><div class='writeup-caution'>Caution - While this grammar structure is most often used to highlight negative outcomes, it may also be used to indicate or desire or wish sarcastically.<ul class='writeup-examples--holder'><li class='writeup-example'><div class='writeup-example--japanese'>ちゃんと毎日（まいにち）勉強（べんきょう）すれば、来週（らいしゅう）のテストは合格（ごうかく）でき<span class='gp-popout' data-gp-id='565'>かねない</span>。</div><div class='writeup-example--english'> If I study everyday, I might do well on the test next week.</div></li></ul></div><div class='writeup-funfact'>Fun-fact - As 兼（か）ねる means 'to spread across', in the negative, this expression can be thought of as similar to 'to not be a stretch' in English. It just indicates the action of (A) would not be a stretch of the ability or capacity of whoever or whatever is being discussed.<ul class='writeup-examples--holder'><li class='writeup-example'><div class='writeup-example--japanese'>彼女（かのじょ）はどんな病気（びょうき）でも治（なお）し<span class='gp-popout' data-gp-id='565'>かねない</span>。</div><div class='writeup-example--english'>It wouldn't be a stretch to say that she can cure any disease.</div></li></ul></div></div>

Grammar Info

兼(か)ねない

might・could be, capable of, possible