N2 Grammar ④　わけにはいかない

JLPT N2 Japanese self-study　·　~15 min　·　Can't possibly / absolutely must — moral obligation expressions

'I can't leave a child alone here.' 'I made a promise, so I can't not go.' — わけにはいかない is about social and moral obligation, not physical ability.

What you'll learn

• わけにはいかない: morally/socially can't — 'I can't possibly ~'
• ないわけにはいかない: double negative = must do — 'can't not ~'
• わけがない: factual impossibility — 'no way' (different meaning!)
• わけではない: negates assumption — 'it's not that I ~'

How to study “N2 Grammar ④　わけにはいかない”

“N2 Grammar ④　わけにはいかない” (Can't possibly / absolutely must — moral obligation expressions) is a JLPT N2 chapter of our free Japanese self-study course, about 15 min. You learn by doing — flashcard drills and fill-in-the-blank quizzes graded on the spot — completely free, with no sign-up and no ad wall. Once it clicks, read the matching in-depth explainer over in Grammar.