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JLPT N3Modal Expressions

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.

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Pro lessonUNIT 101 · MODAL EXPRESSIONS

Structure · 形

[Verb dictionary form] + わけにはいかない ／ [Verb ない-form] + わけにはいかない

Examples · 例文

  • 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.

Usage notes · 注意

  • 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

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