InitialJ
N2possibilityconcern

～かねない (kanenai) - Might / Could possibly

[Verb masu-stem] + かねない

Quick answer

[Verb masu-stem] + かねない means "Might / Could possibly / May well (negative outcome)". This N2 pattern appears often in everyday conversation. Examples and practice exercises are listed below.

Meaning

Might / Could possibly / May well (negative outcome)

Explanation

Expresses concern that something undesirable might happen.

Examples

この情報が漏れたら、問題になりかねない。
このじょうほうがもれたら、もんだいになりかねない。
If this information leaks, it could well become a problem.
情—Feelings報—Report漏—Leak題—Topic
そんな態度では、誤解されかねない。
そんなたいどでは、ごかいされかねない。
With that kind of attitude, you might be misunderstood.
態—Attitude度—Times (counter)誤—Err解—to solve

Practice this grammar

[Verb masu-stem] + かねない

Which sentence correctly uses "～かねない (kanenai) - Might / Could possibly"?

Vocabulary from these examples

情FeelingsN3態AttitudeN1報ReportN3解to solveN3誤ErrN3漏LeakN1度Times (counter)度Time題Topic

Last updated Jul 4, 2026