GRAMMAR
〜かねない
might
could (bad result)
Explanation
NOTE
〜かねない means may well V or could V — expressing a negative possibility that something undesirable could happen.
そんな運転では事故を起こしかねない。
With that kind of driving, you could well cause an accident.
Used only for negative or undesirable outcomes — never for good results.
NOTE
The speaker views the possibility with worry or warning — it suggests the bad outcome is realistic and concerning.
NOTE
Attach かねない to the verb masu-stem (食べます → 食べかねない, 言います → 言いかねない).
STRUCTURE
Vます
かねない彼なら、そんなひどいことを言いかねない。
Kare nara, sonna hidoi koto o iikanenai.
Knowing him, he could well say something that awful.
寝不足が続くと、病気になりかねない。
Nebusoku ga tsuzuku to, byouki ni narikanenai.
If sleep deprivation continues, you could well get sick.
この計画は失敗しかねない。
Kono keikaku wa shippai shikanenai.
This plan could well fail.
この雨だと、川が氾濫しかねない。
Kono ame da to, kawa ga hanran shi-kanenai.
With this rain, the river might overflow.
今の状況では、失敗しかねないので気をつけて。
Ima no joukyou de wa, shippai shi-kanenai no de ki o tsukete.
Given the current situation, you might fail, so please be careful.
そんなに無理をすると、病気になりかねないよ。
Sonna ni muri o suru to, byouki ni nari-kanenai yo.
If you push yourself that hard, you could get sick.
Practice exercises
1
遅刻に相違なく、信用を失失いかねない。
It's undoubtedly a delay, and you might lose credibility.
Answer
失いかねない
2
無理を続ければ体調を崩すに違いないし、入院ししかねない。
If you keep overworking, you'll definitely get sick, and you might be hospitalized.
Answer
しかねない
3
不適切な管理は情報漏洩の恐があり、信用を失失いかねない。
Improper management poses a risk of information leakage, and you might lose credibility.
Answer
失いかねない
4
些細な油断が、取り返しのつかない事態を招招きかねない。
Even a minor lapse in attention might lead to an irreversible situation.
Answer
招きかねない
5
安易な妥協は、将来に大きな禍根を残残しかねない。
Easy compromises might leave deep-seated trouble for the future.
Answer
残しかねない