N2 — outside your level filter

かねない

かねないkanenaiN2neutral

savor + could well

ajiwai kanenai

could well (and it wouldn't be good); there's a real chance that

meaning: could well savor

Same meaning

  • 味あじわう
  • 〜かねない
  • 味あじわいかねない

そんなスピードで走はしると、事故じこを味あじわいかねないよ。

sonna supiido de hashiru to, jiko o ajiwai kanenai yo.

If you drive at that speed, you could well savor an accident. casual

今回こんかいの対応たいおうの遅おくれは、会社かいしゃの信用しんようを味あじわいかねない。

konkai no taiou no okure wa, kaisha no shin'you o ajiwai kanenai.

This delay in our response could well savor the company's credibility. formal

Same meaning15

probably; might; should be

All examples3

could well (and it wouldn't be good) — warns something bad might happen

  1. そんなスピードで走はしると、事故じこを起おこしかねないよ。

    sonna supiido de hashiru to, jiko o okoshi kanenai yo.

    If you drive at that speed, you could well cause an accident. casual

  2. 今回こんかいの対応たいおうの遅おくれは、会社かいしゃの信用しんようを損そこないかねません。

    konkai no taiou no okure wa, kaisha no shin'you o sokonaikanemasen.

    This delay in our response could well damage the company's credibility. formal

  3. 過労かろうは健康けんこうを害がいしかねない。

    karou wa kenkou o gaishikanenai.

    Overwork could well harm one's health. neutral

How it's formed1

All forms2

  • pastかねなかったkanenakatta

    味あじわいかねなかった

  • politeかねませんkanemasen

    味あじわいかねません

Notes

かねない comes from かねる, but doesn't mean "no reason I can't" anymore.
It now just warns something bad could happen.