What Is the Difference Between 「かねない」 and 「おそれがある」? How to Express the Possibility of a Bad Result

When you want to say “something bad may happen” in Japanese, two common expressions are 「かねない」 and 「おそれがある」.

For example:

このまま運転を続けると、事故を起こしかねない。
If you keep driving like this, you may end up causing an accident.

台風の影響で、電車が止まるおそれがある。
Due to the typhoon, there is a risk that the trains may stop.

Both expressions predict a negative result.

However, they are not exactly the same.

「かねない」 often expresses the speaker’s judgment: “If things continue like this, that bad result could really happen.”

「おそれがある」 is more objective and is often used in news, announcements, formal explanations, and warnings.

Understanding this difference will make your Japanese sound much more natural.

Meaning of 「かねない」

「かねない」 means 「悪い結果になってしまう可能性がある」, or “there is a possibility that something bad may happen.”

However, 「かねない」 is not just a neutral “may happen.”

It often includes the speaker’s strong judgment or warning.

For example:

そんな言い方をしたら、相手を怒らせかねない。
If you say it like that, you may end up making the other person angry.

Here, the speaker feels that the negative result is quite realistic.

無理を続けると、体を壊しかねない。
If you keep pushing yourself too hard, you may damage your health.

This is not just a simple possibility.

It sounds like a warning: “This is dangerous if it continues.”

Grammar Pattern of 「かねない」

「かねない」 attaches to the ます-stem of a verb.

For example, 「起こします」 becomes 「起こしかねない」.

「失敗します」 becomes 「失敗しかねない」.

「招きます」 becomes 「招きかねない」.

「壊します」 becomes 「壊しかねない」.

「誤解されます」 becomes 「誤解されかねない」.

Common expressions include the following:

事故を起こしかねない
may end up causing an accident

大きな問題になりかねない
may turn into a serious problem

誤解を招きかねない
may cause misunderstanding

信頼を失いかねない
may lose trust

健康を損ないかねない
may harm one’s health

「かねない」 is rather formal, but it can also appear in conversation when giving a serious warning.

Meaning of 「おそれがある」

「おそれがある」 also means 「悪いことが起こる可能性がある」, or “there is a possibility that something bad may happen.”

However, compared with 「かねない」, 「おそれがある」 sounds more objective.

It is often used in news reports, public notices, official announcements, weather forecasts, medical explanations, and formal writing.

For example:

大雨のため、川が氾濫するおそれがある。
Because of the heavy rain, there is a risk that the river may flood.

This sounds like something you would hear in the news or a weather report.

この薬には、副作用が出るおそれがあります。
This medicine may cause side effects.

This is a calm and objective way to explain a risk.

Grammar Pattern of 「おそれがある」

「おそれがある」 usually attaches to the dictionary form of a verb.

For example, 「起こる」 becomes 「起こるおそれがある」.

「発生する」 becomes 「発生するおそれがある」.

「悪化する」 becomes 「悪化するおそれがある」.

「遅れる」 becomes 「遅れるおそれがある」.

「影響が出る」 becomes 「影響が出るおそれがある」.

It can also be used with nouns by adding 「の」.

感染拡大のおそれがある。
There is a risk of the spread of infection.

土砂災害のおそれがある。
There is a risk of a landslide disaster.

「おそれがある」 is especially natural when describing social, natural, medical, or institutional risks.

The Main Difference Between 「かねない」 and 「おそれがある」

The main difference is whether the sentence sounds like the speaker’s warning or an objective risk explanation.

「かねない」 means that the speaker judges that a bad result may really happen if the situation continues.

Because of this, it is often used for warnings, opinions, criticism, and caution.

「おそれがある」 means that there is an objective risk of a bad result.

Because of this, it is often used in news, public notices, and formal explanations.

Compare these two sentences:

このままでは、会社の信用を失いかねない。
If things continue like this, the company may lose public trust.

個人情報が外部に流出するおそれがある。
There is a risk that personal information may be leaked outside.

The first sentence, 「信用を失いかねない」, feels like a strong warning from the speaker.

The second sentence, 「流出するおそれがある」, sounds more like an objective explanation of risk.

「かねない」 Works Well with Human Actions

「かねない」 is often used when a person’s action, mistake, or decision may lead to a bad result.

そんな態度では、周りから信頼を失いかねない。
With that kind of attitude, you may lose the trust of people around you.

確認しないで送ると、重大なミスにつながりかねない。
If you send it without checking, it may lead to a serious mistake.

感情的に話すと、相手との関係を悪くしかねない。
If you speak emotionally, you may damage your relationship with the other person.

In all of these examples, a human action may cause a bad result.

「かねない」 can also be used for natural phenomena, but it may sound more like a strong warning or commentary.

この雨量が続けば、災害を引き起こしかねない。
If this amount of rainfall continues, it may cause a disaster.

「おそれがある」 Works Well with Objective Risks

「おそれがある」 is very natural when describing natural disasters, accidents, diseases, social issues, system problems, or official risks.

台風の接近により、交通機関に影響が出るおそれがある。
Due to the approaching typhoon, transportation may be affected.

このまま気温が上昇すると、熱中症になるおそれがある。
If the temperature continues to rise, there is a risk of heatstroke.

システム障害により、一部のサービスが利用できないおそれがあります。
Due to a system failure, some services may become unavailable.

This is why 「おそれがある」 often appears in news, announcements, and formal notices.

When They Can Be Replaced

Sometimes 「かねない」 and 「おそれがある」 can be used in similar situations.

For example, both of the following sentences are natural.

このまま放置すると、大きな問題になりかねない。
If this is left as it is, it may become a serious problem.

このまま放置すると、大きな問題になるおそれがある。
If this is left as it is, there is a risk that it will become a serious problem.

But the nuance is different.

「なりかねない」 sounds more like a strong warning.

「なるおそれがある」 sounds calmer and more objective.

When They Are Hard to Replace

Consider this sentence:

大雨のため、川が氾濫するおそれがある。
Because of the heavy rain, there is a risk that the river may flood.

This sounds very natural.

But the following sentence sounds less natural as a neutral news-style sentence.

大雨のため、川が氾濫しかねない。
Because of the heavy rain, the river may end up flooding.

It is not impossible, but for objective disaster risk, 「おそれがある」 is usually better.

On the other hand, this sentence sounds natural as a warning.

その発言は、相手を深く傷つけかねない。
That remark may deeply hurt the other person.

The following sentence is also understandable, but it sounds more explanatory and formal.

その発言は、相手を深く傷つけるおそれがある。
There is a risk that that remark may deeply hurt the other person.

Common Mistakes

「かねない」 is basically used for negative outcomes.

Natural examples include 「失敗しかねない」, “may fail,” 「誤解されかねない」, “may be misunderstood,” and 「信頼を失いかねない」, “may lose trust.”

On the other hand, 「合格しかねない」, “may pass,” and 「成功しかねない」, “may succeed,” usually sound unnatural.

If you want to talk about a good possibility, use 「かもしれない」 or 「可能性がある」.

合格するかもしれない。
You may pass.

成功する可能性がある。
There is a possibility of success.

「おそれがある」 is also used for bad results.

Natural examples include 「病気が悪化するおそれがある」, “there is a risk that the illness may worsen,” and 「予定が遅れるおそれがある」, “there is a risk that the schedule may be delayed.”

On the other hand, 「成績が上がるおそれがある」 and 「売上が伸びるおそれがある」 sound unnatural because the results are positive.

For positive possibilities, use 「可能性がある」.

成績が上がる可能性がある。
Grades may improve.

売上が伸びる可能性がある。
Sales may increase.

Also, 「かねない」 can sound strong.

このままだと失敗しかねない。
If things continue like this, you may fail.

そんな説明では誤解されかねない。
With that kind of explanation, you may be misunderstood.

These sentences can sound direct or serious.

If you want to sound softer in business writing or formal announcements, 「おそれがある」 or 「可能性がある」 may be more appropriate.

JLPT Study Tip

For JLPT N2, it is useful to remember the difference like this.

「かねない」 means “if things continue like this, a bad result may happen.”

「おそれがある」 means “there is an objective risk of something bad.”

「可能性がある」 can be used for both good and bad possibilities.

「かもしれない」 is common and conversational.

The key point is that 「かねない」 is not just “may.”

It is usually a warning about a bad result.

Summary

「かねない」 and 「おそれがある」 both express the possibility of a bad result.

But their nuance is different.

「かねない」 is used when the speaker judges that a bad result may really happen if the situation continues.

「おそれがある」 is used when explaining objectively that there is a risk of a bad result.

Use 「かねない」 when warning about someone’s action, decision, or mistake.

Use 「おそれがある」 when explaining risks in news, public notices, official announcements, disasters, systems, or formal contexts.

Japanese grammar is not only about meaning.

It is also about when and where each expression sounds natural.

With RJT, you can practice confusing JLPT N2 and N3 grammar patterns through clear examples and practical questions.

Move from “I understand it” to “I can use it correctly.”

Practice Japanese grammar with Rapid Japanese Test