兼ねる

• 読み: かねる
• ローマ字: kaneru
• 漢字の分解: 兼 (ken) — combine, hold in common, serve double duty
• 発音: /ka.ne.ɾɯ/

意味

To serve dual functions; to double as something else; in negative constructions, to be unable to do something out of hesitation or propriety.

A Group 2 (ichidan) verb with two distinct uses: (1) to hold multiple roles simultaneously, as in 部長を兼ねる (to also serve as department head); (2) in the negative pattern ～かねる, to be reluctant or unable to do something because it would be improper or difficult, as in 同意しかねる (unable to agree). The second use is especially common in polite refusals in formal Japanese.

例文

1. 彼は研究所の所長を兼ねて、大学でも教鞭をとっている。
2. その申し出はどうしても受け入れかねると、丁寧に断った。
3. 司会と進行を一人で兼ねるのは体力的に辛かった。

使い方ガイド

場面: business, workplace, polite refusals, formal writing

トーン: neutral

起源と歴史

From Old Japanese 兼 (kanu), meaning to hold two things at once. The kanji 兼 depicts a hand grasping two sheaves of grain, symbolising the holding of multiple things simultaneously.

文化的背景

時代: Classical

世代: Adults

社会的背景: All classes