JLPT N3 Grammar – The difference between “わけがない” “わけではない” and “わけにはいかない”
Table of Contents
1. The differences in grammar with “わけ“
2. わけがない
3. わけではない
4. わけにはいかない
5. Let’s Compare
6. Summary
7. Quiz
8. Similar Articles
9. Comments
Q: What is the difference between “わけがない,” “わけではない,” and “わけにはいかない”?
A: All three expressions use “わけ,” but their meanings are quite different. “わけがない” means “there’s no way,” “わけではない” means “it’s not necessarily the case,” and “わけにはいかない” means “cannot do something because of certain circumstances.”
わけがない (JLPT N3)
[Meaning]
Absolutely not ~ / There is no way ~ / Cannot possibly ~
[Rules]
[V] Verb dictionary form + わけがない
[A] い adjective + わけがない
[Na] な adjective + わけがない
な adjective + である + わけがない
[N] Noun + の + わけがない
Noun + な + わけがない
This expression is used when the speaker strongly judges, based on a reason or some evidence, that “there is absolutely no way that could be true” or “there is no possibility of that happening.”
[Examples]
こんな難しい問題、わかるわけがないです。
There’s no way I can understand such a difficult problem.
⇒ Because the problem is very difficult, the speaker concludes, “There’s absolutely no way I can understand it.”
卵も割れない花子が作る料理がおいしいわけがないよ。
There’s no way the food Hanako makes can be delicious if she can’t even crack an egg.
⇒ Because the speaker believes Hanako cannot cook, they strongly conclude that her food cannot possibly be delicious.
毎日、残業ばかりして暇なわけがないでしょう。
There’s no way I have free time when I’m working overtime every day.
⇒ Based on the fact that the speaker works overtime every day, they conclude that there is no possibility of having free time.
A「見て。あの人、社長に似てるね。」
B「社長は海外に出張中だよ。社長なわけがないよ。」
A: “Look. That person looks like the company president.”
B: “The president is on a business trip overseas. There’s no way that’s him.”
⇒ Since the president is overseas, the speaker concludes that the person in front of them cannot possibly be the president.
わけではない (JLPT N3)
[Meaning]
Not necessarily ~ / It does not mean that ~ completely
[Rules]
[V] Verb plain form + わけではない
[A] い adjective + わけではない
[Na] な adjective + わけではない
な adjective + である + わけではない
[N] Noun + の + わけではない
Noun + な + わけではない
Noun + である + わけではない
This expression is used when the speaker does not fully agree with an idea or assumption and wants to partially deny it.
It is not a complete negation such as “not at all.”
[Examples]
簡単だと言っても、誰でもすぐにできるわけではありません。
Even if it is easy, that doesn’t mean everyone can do it right away.
⇒ It means that “easy” does not necessarily mean “anyone can do it immediately.”
この問題は難しいわけではないですが、もう少し考える時間がほしいです。
It’s not that this problem is difficult, but I’d like a little more time to think.
⇒ The speaker is not saying that they cannot think of an answer because the problem is difficult.
ここは便利なわけではないけど、静かで気に入っています。
It’s not that this place is particularly convenient, but I like it because it’s quiet.
⇒ The speaker does not like the place because it is convenient.
会社を休みたいけれど、病気なわけではありません。
I want to take the day off work, but it’s not because I’m sick.
⇒ The speaker is not sick, but wants to take the day off for another reason.
わけにはいかない (JLPT N3)
[Meaning]
Cannot do ~ because of certain circumstances or one’s position
[Rule]
[V] Verb dictionary form + わけにはいかない
[V] Verb ない form + わけにはいかない
This expression does not mean that something is physically impossible.
It is used when the action itself is possible, or when the speaker may even want to do it, but decides that they cannot because of factors such as:
- social expectations
- responsibility
- promises
- one’s position or role
- moral reasons
- relationships with other people
[Examples]
困っている人を見たら、助けないわけにはいかないです。
If I see someone in trouble, I can’t just leave them without helping.
⇒ Helping is not an obligation, but the speaker feels that they cannot ignore the person for psychological or moral reasons.
せっかくもらったプレゼントを、いらないからといって捨てるわけにはいかないよ。
I can’t just throw away a gift someone gave me because I don’t need it.
⇒ It is physically possible to throw it away, but the speaker feels they cannot do so when considering the giver’s feelings.
病気の母を国に残して留学するわけにはいかなかったので、留学を諦めました。
I couldn’t leave my sick mother behind and go study abroad, so I gave up on studying abroad.
⇒ Studying abroad was possible, but the speaker felt unable to do so because of their mother’s situation.
明日は大事なテストがあるから、今日はゲームをしているわけにはいかない。
I have an important test tomorrow, so I can’t afford to spend my time playing games today.
⇒ Playing games is possible, but because of the important test, the speaker feels that it would not be appropriate to do so.
Let’s Compare
The differences among these three expressions are easier to understand if you think of them as follows:
わけがない: Strongly denies a possibility — “There’s absolutely no way that’s true.”
わけではない: Partially denies an idea or statement — “It’s not necessarily the case.”
わけにはいかない: Expresses that an action cannot be taken because of certain circumstances — “It is possible, but it would not be appropriate or acceptable to do so.”
Let’s compare them using the same verb, “行く” (to go).
[Examples]
彼がパーティーに行くわけがないよ。
There’s no way he will go to the party.
⇒ Based on his personality or circumstances, the speaker judges that there is no possibility that he will go to the party.
彼はパーティーに行きたくないわけではないよ。
It’s not that he doesn’t want to go to the party.
⇒ This does not completely mean that he does not want to go. In other words, he may actually want to go.
明日は試験があるので、パーティーに行くわけにはいかないよ。
I have an exam tomorrow, so I can’t go to the party.
⇒ Going to the party itself is possible. However, because there is an exam tomorrow, the speaker feels that they should not go.
The Difference Between “わけがない” and “わけではない”
[Examples]
子供でもできた問題が、大人にとって難しいわけがないよ。
There’s no way a problem that even a child could solve would be difficult for an adult.
⇒ Since even a child could solve it, the speaker strongly judges that there is no possibility that it would be difficult for an adult.
難しいわけではないけど、もう少し考えたいです。
It’s not that it’s difficult, but I’d like to think about it a little more.
⇒ The speaker is not completely denying that it is difficult. At the very least, they are saying that difficulty is not the reason they cannot answer right away.
“わけがない” expresses a strong negation, while “わけではない” expresses a partial negation.
The Difference Between “わけがない” and “わけにはいかない”
[Examples]
世界1位の選手がこの試合で負けるわけがないよ。
There’s no way the world’s number one player will lose this match.
⇒ Based on the player’s ability as the world’s number one, the speaker judges that there is no possibility of losing.
家族や友達も応援してくれているんだ。この試合で負けるわけにはいかない。
My family and friends are cheering for me. I can’t afford to lose this match.
⇒ In reality, losing is still possible. However, because the speaker’s family and friends are supporting them, the speaker strongly feels, “I absolutely don’t want to lose” or “I cannot allow myself to lose.”
Summary
[わけがない]
- Expresses a strong judgment such as “There’s absolutely no way” or “There is no possibility of that.”
- Used when the speaker strongly rejects a possibility based on a reason or some evidence.
[わけではない]
- Expresses partial negation, such as “It is not necessarily ~” or “It does not completely mean that ~.”
- Used when the speaker does not fully accept an assumption or statement as 100% true.
[わけにはいかない]
- Expresses that something cannot be done because of circumstances, responsibilities, one’s position, social expectations, or similar reasons.
- It does not mean that something is physically or practically impossible.
- It carries the nuance of “It is possible, but it would not be appropriate or acceptable to do so.”
Quiz
Read the following sentence and choose the expression that fits the context from the options provided in the parentheses.
Click on the question to check the answer.
A. わけがない
こんな強い雨と風で電車が走るわけがない。
There’s no way the train will run in such heavy rain and strong winds.
*“わけがない” is correct because, based on the severe rain and wind, the speaker strongly judges that there is no possibility of the train running.
A. わけにはいかない
道で知らない子供がけがをして泣いている。無視するわけにはいかない。
A child I don’t know is hurt and crying on the street. I can’t just ignore them.
*Ignoring the child is physically possible, but given the situation, the speaker feels that they cannot do so for moral or emotional reasons. Therefore, “わけにはいかない” is correct.
A. わけではない
このケーキは食べられないわけではないけど、ちょっと甘すぎるよ。
It’s not that I can’t eat this cake, but it’s a little too sweet.
*The speaker is denying the idea that they cannot eat the cake at all. They can eat it, but they feel that it is a little too sweet. Therefore, “わけではない” is correct.
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