cannot, must not

Intermediate

25-30 min

common

Expert Reviewed

Explanation

Indicates social or moral obligation not to do.

[Verb dictionary form] + わけにはいかない

約束したから、行かないわけにはいかない。

Yakusoku shita kara, ikanai wake ni wa ikanai.

Since I promised, I cannot not go.

仕事中だから、遊ぶわけにはいかない。

Shigoto chuu da kara, asobu wake ni wa ikanai.

Since I'm at work, I can't play around.

Negative form means "must do".

～わけだ

that is why, no wonder, it means that

～ために (tame ni)

in order to ~, for the purpose of ~

～のに (noni)

although ~, despite ~, even though ~

～にもかかわらず

despite ~, in spite of ~

～ようになる

come to ~, become able to ~, reach the point where ~

About social/moral constraints, not ability.

JLPTBooks Editorial Team

Japanese Language Education Specialists

Last updated: Jan 2

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