兼ねる · ichidan verb
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | 兼ねる | 兼ねない |
| Polite | 兼ねます | 兼ねません |
| Past polite | 兼ねました | 兼ねませんでした |
| Past | 兼ねた | 兼ねなかった |
| Te-form | 兼ねて | 兼ねないで |
| Desire | 兼ねたい | 兼ねたくない |
| Potential | 兼ねられるalso 兼ねれる | 兼ねられないalso 兼ねれない |
| Passive | 兼ねられる | 兼ねられない |
| Causative | 兼ねさせる | 兼ねさせない |
| Causative passive | 兼ねさせられる | 兼ねさせられない |
| Volitional | 兼ねよう | |
| Polite volitional | 兼ねましょう | |
| Imperative | 兼ねろ | 兼ねるな |
| Conditional | 兼ねれば | 兼ねなければ |
| Tara conditional | 兼ねたら | 兼ねなかったら |
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
その件についてはお答えしかねます。
I am afraid I cannot answer about that matter.
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.
This room serves as both a study and a bedroom.
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.
She is both a researcher and a doctor.
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.
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.
In older writing, it is sometimes used in phrases like 万一を兼ねて to mean taking future contingencies into account.
I regret that I am not in a position to comply with his request.
This sofa also serves as a bed.
He serves as both president and chairman.
There's a bedroom that doubles as a study.
躊躇する is the general verb for hesitating over any action, while 兼ねる in expressions like 言いかねる specifically conveys reluctance to say or do something out of consideration for others.