兼かねる

suffix, ichidan verb

be unable to; find difficult to do; be not in a position to do

Auxiliary after the masu-stem of another verb: Vます-stem + かねる. Often used politely or formally when refusing, saying something is difficult, or saying one cannot responsibly do it.

See also: かねない

• その件けんについてはお答こたえしかねます。

  I am afraid I cannot answer about that matter.

• こちらでは判はん断だんしかねるので、本ほん社しゃに確かく認にんします。

  We cannot make that judgment here, so we will check with the head office.

ichidan verb, transitive verb

serve as both; combine functions; also function as

Used when one thing has two or more functions, features, or purposes. Common patterns include AはBを兼ねる and Bを兼ねたA.

• この部屋へやは書しょ斎さいと寝しん室しつを兼かねている。

  This room serves as both a study and a bedroom.

• ベッドを兼かねたソファを買かった。

  I bought a sofa that also functions as a bed.

ichidan verb, transitive verb

hold concurrently; serve in two roles; do alongside

Used for people holding multiple jobs, posts, or roles at the same time. More specific than the general 'combine functions' sense because it concerns duties or positions.

• 彼かの女じょは研けん究きゅう者しゃと医い師しを兼かねている。

  She is both a researcher and a doctor.

• 彼かれは編へん集しゅう長ちょうを兼かねて、その雑ざっ誌しの運うん営えいにも関かかわっている。

  He also serves as editor-in-chief and is involved in running the magazine.

ichidan verb, transitive verb

hesitate to do; be reluctant to say or do; feel awkward about doing

Usually appears attached to another verb, especially in expressions such as 言いかねる, where the difficulty comes from consideration, awkwardness, or reluctance toward others.

• 彼かれは本ほん当とうの理り由ゆうを言いいかねて、しばらく黙だまっていた。

  He hesitated to say the real reason and stayed silent for a while.

ichidan verb, transitive verb

take the future into account; look ahead to; allow for what may happen

Rare or old-fashioned use meaning to consider future circumstances as well as the present. Modern Japanese more often uses expressions such as 将来を考えて or 見越して.

• 古ふるい文ぶん章しょうでは、「万まん一いちを兼かねて」のように、先さきのことを見み越こす意い味みで使つかわれることがある。

  In older writing, it is sometimes used in phrases like 万一を兼ねて to mean taking future contingencies into account.