JLPT N2 grammar
〜わけにはいかない — Meaning & Examples
"Can't (allow myself to)" for social/moral/practical reasons — not physical inability. 休むわけにはいかない = I can't afford to take off. Negative 〜ないわけにはいかない = "must / have no choice but to."
〜わけにはいかない — "I Can't (Allow Myself To)"
わけにはいかない expresses that something is impossible NOT because it's physically impossible, but because of social, moral, or circumstantial reasons. You're not ALLOWED to / can't bring yourself to.
Pattern: [dictionary form] + わけにはいかない
大事な会議だから、休むわけにはいかない。
= It's an important meeting, so I can't (afford to) take the day off.
友達との約束だから、行かないわけにはいかない。
= I promised my friend, so I can't just not go.
みんなが頑張っているのに、私だけ帰るわけにはいかない。
= Everyone's working hard, so I can't just leave on my own.
Note the negative form — 〜ないわけにはいかない = "must / can't avoid doing":
借りたお金は、返さないわけにはいかない。
= I borrowed the money, so I have no choice but to pay it back.
Compare:
- 食べられない = can't eat (physically unable)
- 食べるわけにはいかない = can't eat it (it would be wrong/inappropriate to)
Key feeling: Social or moral obligation — "circumstances won't allow it." A very Japanese concept of duty (義理) baked into grammar!
🎊 Master all four わけ patterns and you've unlocked one of N2's most important grammar families.
Practice questions
Try these 3 questions on 〜わけにはいかない. Pick an answer in your head, then open “Show answer”.
1. Which pattern means "no wonder / that's why"?
- わけにはいかない (wake ni wa ikanai)
- わけではない (wake de wa nai)
- わけがない (wake ga nai)
- わけだ (wake da)
Show answer
Answer: わけだ (wake da)
わけだ draws a logical conclusion: 道理で寒いわけだ = no wonder it's cold. You connect new evidence to a fact you already noticed.
2. "It's not that I dislike it, but..." uses?
- 嫌いなわけではない (kirai na wake de wa nai)
- 嫌いなわけだ (kirai na wake da)
- 嫌いなわけがない (kirai na wake ga nai)
- 嫌いなわけにはいかない (kirai na wake ni wa ikanai)
Show answer
Answer: 嫌いなわけではない (kirai na wake de wa nai)
わけではない = partial denial. 嫌いなわけではない = it's not (necessarily) that I dislike it. Softens an assumption.
3. "There's no way he'd say that" is?
- 言うわけだ (iu wake da)
- 言うわけではない (iu wake de wa nai)
- 言うわけがない (iu wake ga nai)
- 言うわけにはいかない (iu wake ni wa ikanai)
Show answer
Answer: 言うわけがない (iu wake ga nai)
わけがない = strong impossibility. 彼がそんなことを言うわけがない = there's no way he'd say that.
Practise 〜わけにはいかない in the free app
This point is part of the “The わけ Family — Logic and Conclusions” 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: The わけ Family — Logic and Conclusions
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜わけにはいかない mean?
"Can't (allow myself to)" for social/moral/practical reasons — not physical inability. 休むわけにはいかない = I can't afford to take off. Negative 〜ないわけにはいかない = "must / have no choice but to."
Is 〜わけにはいかない on the JLPT N2 test?
〜わけにはいかない is taught in the JLPT N2 grammar course in A Star Japanese (lesson “The わけ Family — Logic and Conclusions”), 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 〜わけにはいかない?
Open the “The わけ Family — Logic and Conclusions” 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.