わけにはいかない — I Simply Can't
Expresses that one cannot do something — not because it's physically impossible, but because of social, moral, or psychological obligations. With the affirmative verb it means 'can't afford to / mustn't', and with the negative verb (ないわけにはいかない) it means 'can't not do it / have no choice but to'. It reflects duty, circumstance, or conscience rather than ability.
Structure
[Verb dictionary form] + わけにはいかない ／ [Verb ない-form] + わけにはいかない
Examples
明日は大事な試験だから、遊ぶわけにはいかない。
Ashita wa daiji na shiken da kara, asobu wake ni wa ikanai.
I have an important exam tomorrow, so I can't afford to go out and play.
遊ぶ + わけにはいかない = socially/practically not allowed to relax.
約束したのだから、行かないわけにはいかない。
Yakusoku shita no da kara, ikanai wake ni wa ikanai.
Since I made a promise, I have no choice but to go.
行かない + わけにはいかない = the double negative means 'must go'.
みんなが働いているのに、私だけ休むわけにはいかない。
Minna ga hataraite iru noni, watashi dake yasumu wake ni wa ikanai.
Everyone else is working, so I can't just take a rest by myself.
休む + わけにはいかない conveys social pressure preventing the action.
• The impossibility here is social/psychological, not physical — for physical inability use ことができない. • ないわけにはいかない = strong obligation, like なければならない. • Register: neutral; slightly formal in writing.
Commonly confused with
The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones わけにはいかない is tested against.
vs ことができない
ことができない states plain (often physical) inability, while わけにはいかない implies you are prevented by circumstances or conscience.
vs なければならない
なければならない simply states an obligation, whereas ないわけにはいかない adds the nuance that circumstances leave you no other choice.
More modal expressions
Study Japanese grammar on LenGaki
Everything on this page, free to browse
- 7,788 JLPT vocabulary words, N5 through N1, with readings and audio
- 2,057 kanji with on'yomi, kun'yomi and stroke-order practice
- 444 grammar points with examples and commonly-confused comparisons
- Full-length N5 and N4 mock exams, timed, with real listening audio
Get the Android app