JLPT N3 grammar
わけ — Meaning & Examples
Logical conclusion or reasoning. 〜わけです = "it follows that / so that's why." Used after evidence to draw a conclusion. わけではない = "it's not that..."
わけ — "The Reason Is / It Follows That"
〜わけ has several uses, but at N3 the key ones are:
1. 〜わけです — "It means that / so that's why"
Used when reaching a logical conclusion or summing up.
A: 10年日本に住んでいます。 = I've lived in Japan 10 years.
B: ああ、それで日本語が上手なわけですね。 = Ah, so that's why your Japanese is good!
毎日勉強しているから、できるわけです。
= Since I study every day, of course I can do it.
2. 〜わけがない — "There's no way / it can't be that"
Stronger denial than はずがない.
そんなわけない！ = No way!
簡単に分かるわけがない。
= There's no way it's easily understood.
3. 〜わけではない — "It's not that..." (partial denial)
嫌いなわけではないが、あまり食べない。
= It's not that I dislike it, but I don't eat much of it.
日本語が下手なわけではない。少し緊張しただけだ。
= It's not that my Japanese is bad. I was just a bit nervous.
Compare はず vs わけ:
- はず = expectation ("should be")
- わけ = conclusion ("it follows that / that's why")
わけ usually comes AFTER evidence is presented; はず looks forward to a conclusion.
Practice questions
Try these 3 questions on わけ. Pick an answer in your head, then open “Show answer”.
1. "So that's why your Japanese is good!" uses?
- わけ (wake)
- はず (hazu)
- つもり (tsumori)
- ようになる (you ni naru)
Show answer
Answer: わけ (wake)
〜わけですね = "it follows that / so that's why." Used to draw conclusions from evidence. 上手なわけですね = So that's why you're good!
2. "It's not that I dislike it..." (partial denial) is?
- 嫌いなはずではない
- 嫌いなわけではない
- 嫌いなつもりではない
- 嫌いではないつもり
Show answer
Answer: 嫌いなわけではない
わけではない = "it's not that..." (partial denial). Softer than just "not." 嫌いなわけではないが = "It's not that I hate it, but..."
3. "I plan to go to Japan next year" uses?
- 行くつもり (iku tsumori)
- 行くわけ (iku wake)
- 行くはず (iku hazu)
- 行くようになる (iku you ni naru)
Show answer
Answer: 行くつもり (iku tsumori)
つもり = intention/plan. 行くつもりです = I intend to go. The N4-level use of つもり.
Practise わけ in the free app
This point is part of the “Expectation and Reasoning — はず・わけ・つもり” lesson in A Star Japanese. Study it with examples, a quiz, flashcards and timed JLPT N3 mock exams. Free on iPhone and Android.
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Related N3 grammar points
From the same lesson: Expectation and Reasoning — はず・わけ・つもり
Frequently asked questions
What does わけ mean?
Logical conclusion or reasoning. 〜わけです = "it follows that / so that's why." Used after evidence to draw a conclusion. わけではない = "it's not that..."
Is わけ on the JLPT N3 test?
わけ is taught in the JLPT N3 grammar course in A Star Japanese (lesson “Expectation and Reasoning — はず・わけ・つもり”), 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?
Open the “Expectation and Reasoning — はず・わけ・つもり” 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 N3 mock exams, with no ads.