Verb (ます stem) + かねる

[Cannot / Find it difficult to / Hesitate to]

Connection: Verb (ます stem) + かねる

Usage: Expresses that one finds it difficult or is unable to do something, often due to psychological reasons, politeness, or circumstances. Softer and more polite than simply saying できない. Commonly used in business and formal settings.

Common expressions:

• 決めかねる (find it hard to decide)
• 答えかねる (find it hard to answer)
• 賛成しかねる (find it hard to agree)

Examples:

その質問にはお答えしかねます。(I'm afraid I cannot answer that question.)

この条件では承諾しかねます。(Under these conditions, I find it difficult to accept.)

彼の行動は理解しかねる。(I find it hard to understand his behavior.)