modality N3 common casualpolitewritten
わけにはいかない — cannot (afford to) ~
わけにはいかない
Builds on わけだ
Meaning
- can't (afford to) ~ / mustn't ~ — barred by social, moral, or practical reasons rather than by ability
Key sentence
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 very well take the day off.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| verb (dictionary form) | V(dict) + わけにはいかない | 休むわけにはいかない / 諦めるわけにはいかない |
Examples
友達との約束だから、今さら断るわけにはいかない。
I promised a friend, so I can't back out now.
彼の秘密を勝手に話すわけにはいかない。
I can't go telling his secret without permission.
ここで諦めるわけにはいかない。
I can't allow myself to give up here.
When you can't use it
- This is impossibility from circumstance or conscience, not from ability. 'I can't swim' (no skill) is 泳げない, never ✗泳ぐわけにはいかない. Use わけにはいかない when you're able to but mustn't.
Easily confused with
See わけにはいかない in real sentences
Jengo shows わけにはいかない the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled with reference to A Dictionary of Advanced Japanese Grammar, A Dictionary of Intermediate Japanese Grammar.