Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 6: 16/24

訳(わけ)には行(い)かないCannot afford to, No way, Impossible to do

Structure

Verb + わけにはいかない

Details

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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(い)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.

Although わけにはいかない primarily highlights things that are undesirable, it may also highlight something that is desirable, but impossible for some reason. This will depend largely on the speaker's tone of voice, and context of the conversation.

In these types of sentences, the expression is quite similar to the 'I guess it's just not meant to be so' nuance that can be conveyed in English, highlighting regret.

Examples

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    僕(ぼく)はその問題(もんだい)を黙(だま)って見(み)過(す)ごす訳(わけ)には行(い)かない。

    I cannot afford to silently overlook that problem.

    まだやるべきことがあるから、死(し)ぬ訳(わけ)には行(い)かないんだ！

    I can't afford to die, because there are still some things I have to do!

    大統領(だいとうりょう)に頼(たの)まれたので断(ことわ)る訳(わけ)には行(い)かない。

    Since I was asked by the president I can't afford to say no.

    それは捨(す)てる訳(わけ)には行(い)きません。大切(たいせつ)な人(ひと)からもらったんです。

    I can't afford to throw it away. I got it from my special someone.

    まだ許(ゆる)す訳(わけ)には行(い)きません。ちゃんと反省(はんせい)してないでしょ。

    I can't afford to forgive you yet. You haven't taken the time to properly reflect on what you have done.

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