JLPT N2 grammar
〜ないわけにはいかない — Meaning & Examples
"Must / can't avoid" due to social or moral obligation. 返さないわけにはいかない = can't just not repay. Differs from ざるを得ない (circumstantial force) — here it's duty.
Putting It Together — and 〜ないわけにはいかない
Remember 〜ないわけにはいかない from the わけ lesson? It also means "must / can't avoid," but the nuance differs.
借りたお金は返さないわけにはいかない。
= I can't just not repay borrowed money.（social/moral obligation）
The full spectrum of "must / no choice":
・〜ざるを得ない → forced by circumstances, reluctant, formal
・〜ずにはいられない → can't suppress an inner urge (emotional)
・〜よりほかない → no other option remains
・〜ないわけにはいかない → social/moral obligation won't let you avoid it
・〜しかない → plain "have to / nothing but"（N3, everyday）
Quick test — pick the feeling:
感動して、拍手せずにはいられなかった。→ irresistible impulse 👏
予算が足りず、計画を変更せざるを得ない。→ forced by circumstance 📉
バスがないなら、タクシーで行くよりほかない。→ only option left 🚕
🎉 Master these and you can express every shade of "I have no choice" — from reluctant duty to unstoppable emotion. よく頑張りました！
Practise 〜ないわけにはいかない in the free app
This point is part of the “Inevitability and Compulsion — ざるを得ない・ずにはいられない・よりほかない” lesson in A Star Japanese. Study it with examples, a quiz, flashcards and timed JLPT N2 mock exams. Free on iPhone and Android.
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Related N2 grammar points
From the same lesson: Inevitability and Compulsion — ざるを得ない・ずにはいられない・よりほかない
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜ないわけにはいかない mean?
"Must / can't avoid" due to social or moral obligation. 返さないわけにはいかない = can't just not repay. Differs from ざるを得ない (circumstantial force) — here it's duty.
Is 〜ないわけにはいかない on the JLPT N2 test?
〜ないわけにはいかない is taught in the JLPT N2 grammar course in A Star Japanese (lesson “Inevitability and Compulsion — ざるを得ない・ずにはいられない・よりほかない”), so it is a pattern learners at this level are expected to recognise. The JLPT does not publish an official grammar list, so treat this as a study guide rather than an official requirement.
How can I practise 〜ないわけにはいかない?
Open the “Inevitability and Compulsion — ざるを得ない・ずにはいられない・よりほかない” lesson in the free A Star Japanese app for iPhone and Android. It has examples, a quiz after every lesson, flashcards with spaced repetition and timed JLPT N2 mock exams, with no ads.