兼ねる
かねる
ichidan verb (transitive)
to serve as both, to double as
Conjugation
| Affirmative | Negative | |
|---|---|---|
| Present | 兼ねる | 兼ねない |
| Present polite | 兼ねます | 兼ねません |
| Past | 兼ねた | 兼ねなかった |
| Past polite | 兼ねました | 兼ねませんでした |
| て form | 兼ねて | 兼ねなくて |
| ている present | 兼ねている | 兼ねていない |
| ている polite | 兼ねています | 兼ねていません |
| ている past | 兼ねていた | 兼ねていなかった |
| ている past polite | 兼ねていました | 兼ねていませんでした |
| Conditional ば | 兼ねれば | 兼ねなければ |
| Conditional たら | 兼ねたら | 兼ねなかったら |
| Volitional | 兼ねよう | — |
| Volitional polite | 兼ねましょう | — |
| Potential | 兼ねられる | 兼ねられない |
| Passive | 兼ねられる | 兼ねられない |
| Causative | 兼ねさせる | 兼ねさせない |
| Imperative | 兼ねろ | 兼ねるな |
1.
to serve as both, to combine roles
To fulfill two functions or roles simultaneously. The subject takes on a dual purpose.
この部屋は書斎を兼ねている。
This room doubles as a study.
社長が営業部長を兼ねている。
The company president also serves as the sales director.
散歩を兼ねて買い物に行った。
I went shopping, combining it with a walk.
2.
to be unable to, to find it hard to
Used as a suffix after the stem of another verb (Vます + かねる) to express inability or reluctance to do something, often due to moral hesitation or difficulty. More formal than できない.
それはお答えしかねます。
I'm afraid I cannot answer that.
この提案には賛成しかねる。
I find it difficult to agree with this proposal.
彼の行動は理解しかねるものだった。
His behavior was something I could not understand.
Ichidan verb. Has two distinct usages that learners should master separately.
SENSE 1 PATTERNS:
- AがBを兼ねる (A serves as B as well)
- Aを兼ねてBする (do B while also doing A)
SENSE 2 PATTERN:
- Vます形 + かねる (unable to V / reluctant to V)
This is a polite, indirect way of refusing or expressing inability. Very common in business and customer service.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 役を兼ねる (hold dual roles)
- ～を兼ねて (also serving as, combining with)
- 判断しかねる (unable to judge)
- 納得しかねる (unable to accept)
RELATED:
- かねない: potential negative form meaning "it could happen" — expresses worry that something undesirable might occur. Opposite nuance from かねる (sense 2).