Japanese Grammar: わけにはいかない (wake ni wa ikanai)

By /
Japanese Grammar: わけにはいかない (wake ni wa ikanai)
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

Cannot afford to; must not; cannot possibly (due to social/moral reasons).

🎯 Primary Function

Expresses the inability to do something (or the necessity to do something) based on common sense, social obligation, or personal conscience, rather than physical capability.

📋 Grammar Structure

Verb (Dictionary form) + わけにはいかない (Meaning: Cannot do / Must not do)
Not typically used directly with i-adjectives.
Not typically used directly with na-adjectives.
Verb (Nai-form) + わけにはいかない (Meaning: Must do / Cannot help but do)

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Very common in business and formal environments to explain why an action is impossible or required based on duty.

😊 Informal Situations

Used among friends when discussing serious commitments or moral dilemmas.

✍️ Written Language

Used in formal letters, reports, or literature to describe internal conflict or social pressure.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Often used in explanations and justifications.

💡 Common Applications

Work Responsibilities
Used when social duty at work prevents an action.
Example: 大事な会議があるから、休むわけにはいかない。(I have an important meeting, so I can’t take the day off.)
Social Etiquette
Used when one feels morally obligated to do something.
Example: お世話になった人に、お礼を言わないわけにはいかない。(I cannot not thank someone who helped me.)
Personal Principles
Used when personal ethics or pride prevent an action.
Example: 嘘をつくわけにはいかない。(I cannot bring myself to tell a lie.)
📊
Frequency
High
🎚️
Difficulty
N3/N2
Tag:

Related Kanji

JLPT N3 Kanji List

Related Vocabulary

JLPT N3 Vocabulary List
Example Sentences
Example #1
明日はテストがあるから、遊ぶわけにはいかない。
Furigana: あしたはテストがあるから、あそぶわけにはいかない。
Romaji: Ashita wa tesuto ga aru kara, asobu wake ni wa ikanai.
English: I have a test tomorrow, so I can’t afford to go out and play.
Example #2
仕事が終わっていないから、帰るわけにはいかない。
Furigana: しごとがおわっていないから、かえるわけにはいかない。
Romaji: Shigoto ga owatte inai kara, kaeru wake ni wa ikanai.
English: Since the work isn’t finished yet, I cannot go home.
Example #3
先生に頼まれたから、断るわけにはいかない。
Furigana: せんせいにたのまれたから、ことわるわけにはいかない。
Romaji: Sensei ni tanomareta kara, kotowaru wake ni wa ikanai.
English: Since the teacher asked me, I cannot possibly refuse.
Example #4
彼が病気なら、助けないわけにはいかない。
Furigana: かれがびょうきなら、たすけないわけにはいかない。
Romaji: Kare ga byouki nara, tasukenai wake ni wa ikanai.
English: If he is sick, I simply must help him.
Example #5
みんなが待っているから、行かないわけにはいかない。
Furigana: みんながまっているから、いかないわけにはいかない。
Romaji: Minna ga matte iru kara, ikanai wake ni wa ikanai.
English: Everyone is waiting, so I have to go (cannot not go).
Example #6
親に心配をかけるわけにはいかない。
Furigana: おやにしんぱいをかけるわけにはいかない。
Romaji: Oya ni shinpai o kakeru wake ni wa ikanai.
English: I cannot afford to make my parents worry.
Example #7
約束した以上、守らないわけにはいかない。
Furigana: やくそくしたいじょう、まもらないわけにはいかない。
Romaji: Yakusoku shita ijou, mamoranai wake ni wa ikanai.
English: Now that I’ve promised, I must keep it.
Example #8
お金がないから、そんな高いものは買うわけにはいかない。
Furigana: おかねがないから、そんなたかいものはかうわけにはいかない。
Romaji: Okane gai nai kara, sonna takai mono wa kau wake ni wa ikanai.
English: I don’t have money, so I can’t possibly buy such an expensive item.
Example #9
社長が来たから、挨拶しないわけにはいかない。
Furigana: しゃちょうがきたから、あいさつしないわけにはいかない。
Romaji: Shachou ga kita kara, aisatsu shinai wake ni wa ikanai.
English: Since the president has arrived, I have to greet him.
Example #10
責任者として、このまま放っておくわけにはいかない。
Furigana: せきにんしゃとして、このままほうっておくわけにはいかない。
Romaji: Sekininsha toshite, kono mama hootte oku wake ni wa ikanai.
English: As the person in charge, I cannot just leave this as it is.
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Social/Moral vs. Physical Inability
‘Hashirenai’ means I physically cannot run (broken leg). ‘Hashiru wake ni wa ikanai’ means I shouldn’t run (e.g., inside a hospital or at a funeral).
Example: 走れない (Hashirenai) vs 走るわけにはいかない (Hashiru wake ni wa ikanai)
Double Negative Structure
When used with the negative form (nai-form), it creates a double negative meaning ‘cannot not do,’ which translates to a strong social ‘must.’
Example: 行かないわけにはいかない (I must go)

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ 漢字を書くわけにはいかない。(intended: I can’t write kanji.)
✅ 漢字が書けない。(I can’t write kanji.)
‘Wake ni wa ikanai’ is for social/moral reasons, not lack of ability.

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Polite (Desu/Masu) but indicates a firm stance or heavy obligation.
Social Situations: Reflects the Japanese social concept of ‘giri’ (duty/obligation) and ‘sekiningan’ (sense of responsibility).
Regional Variations: Standard across Japan.

🔍 Subtle Differences

わけにはいかない vs 〜なければならない
‘Nakereba naranai’ is a general rule or necessity. ‘Wake ni wa ikanai’ implies an internal or social conflict—you want to do something else, but your conscience or the situation stops you.
When to use: Use ‘wake ni wa ikanai’ when emphasizing the pressure of the situation or moral duty.

📝 Conjugation Notes

The verb before ‘wake ni wa ikanai’ is always in the plain form (Dictionary form for ‘cannot’ or Nai-form for ‘must’).

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

The ‘wa’ (は) is a topic marker used for emphasis here. In casual speech, it’s sometimes shortened to ‘わけにゃいかない’ (wakenya ikanai), but this is very informal.

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of ‘Wake’ as ‘reason’ and ‘Ikanai’ as ‘cannot go/proceed.’ Literally: ‘The reason does not allow it to proceed.’ This helps you remember that it’s about the logic or situation, not your physical body.

Other Grammar

Related Posts

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top