Structure
Verb + わけにはいかない
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Standard
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一般
About わけにはいかない
わけにはいかない is a statement that combines わけ 'to be so', 'reason', or 'cause', with the case marking particle に, the adverbial particle は, and the 'cannot go' meaning of 行かない. It can be translated as 'cannot afford to (A)', or 'impossible to (A)'. However, the literal meaning is much closer to 'it cannot be so that (A)'.
This structure will be used directly after the non-past form of verbs, in order to highlight them as being either highly undesirable, or highly unattainable.
This structure will be used directly after the non-past form of verbs, in order to highlight them as being either highly undesirable, or highly unattainable.
- この料理は妻が頑張って作ってくれたやつだから不味くても食べないわけにはいかない。My wife made this food for me, so no matter how bad it tastes, it cannot be so that I won't eat it.
- 明日は人手が足りないから、休むわけにはいかない。Since we are short-handed tomorrow, I cannot afford to take a day off.
- このジャケットが欲しいけど、今月はお金を使い過ぎたから買うわけにはいかない。I want this Jacket, but because I spent too much money this month, it cannot be so that I buy it.
- 先輩に誘われたから、断るわけにはいかない。I was invited by my senpai, so there is no way that I can decline the offer.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Examples
僕はその問題を黙って見過ごすわけにはいかない。
I cannot afford to silently overlook that problem.
大統領に頼まれたので断るわけにはいかない。
Since I was asked by the president I can't afford to say no.
前回の日本語能力試験に不合格だったので、次は失敗するわけにはいかない。
I failed the JLPT last time, so I cannot afford to fail it a second time.
前に一度、彼女との約束を破ったから、今度は破るわけにはいかない。
I broke a promise with her once before, so this time I cannot afford to break another.
それは捨てるわけにはいきません。大切な人からもらったんです。
I can't afford to throw it away. I got it from my special someone.
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Online
The various uses of わけ
Tae Kim
Further breakdown and exercises
MLC Japanese
The difference between 「いけない」 and 「いかない」
Japanese StackExchange
Very thorough breakdown in Japanese
nihongo day by day
接続・意味・使い方・例文
にほんごの里
Offline
Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide
Page 286
[AIAIJ] An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese
Page 93
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