〜わけにはいきません: This means you cannot do something. It is not because you are unable. It is because it is wrong or not allowed.

Dictionary

〜わけにはいきません

This means you cannot do something. It is not because you are unable. It is because it is wrong or not allowed.

N3 KMT6PoliteStandardAuxiliary ConstructionMixedFormal Refusal And InabilityGrammar

Verb [dictionary form] + わけにはいきませんPrimary

Verb [dictionary form] + わけにはいかない

Verb [ない-form] + わけにはいきません

Verb [ない-form] + わけにはいかない

This means you cannot do something. It is not because you are unable. It is because it is wrong or not allowed.

申し訳ありませんが、そのご提案は受け入れるわけにはいきません。

I'm very sorry, but I cannot possibly accept that proposal.

PoliteNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeBusiness & Finance Work & Career

明日は大事な試験があるから、勉強しないわけにはいかない。

I have an important exam tomorrow, so I have no choice but to study.

NeutralNon PastNegativeSentence EndingNecessityEducation Daily Life

約束した手前、行かないわけにはいかなかったが、本当は気乗りしなかった。

Having made a promise, I had no choice but to go, but honestly I didn't feel like it.

NeutralPastNegativeMid SentenceNecessityDaily Life Family & Relationships

病気の子供を一人で家に置いていくわけにはいかない。

I can't possibly leave my sick child at home alone.

NeutralNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingProhibitionFamily & Relationships Medicine & Health

お客様の個人情報ですので、お教えするわけにはいきませんが、ご本人様であれば確認可能です。

As this is the customer's personal information, I cannot disclose it to you, but if you are the person in question, confirmation is possible.

PoliteNon PastAffirmativeMid SentenceProhibitionBusiness & Finance Work & Career

This grammar is like saying, "I really can't do that." It's not that you are unable. It's more like you shouldn't. Or you must not. It's because of rules or what people expect.

This is different from "できません" (dekimasen). "できません" means you simply cannot do something. It might be against the rules. Or you are not strong enough. "〜わけにはいきません" means you *could* do it. But you feel you *should not* do it. It is not the right thing to do. It is also different from "かねます" (kanemasu). "かねます" is a very polite way to say no. You use it in business. "〜わけにはいきません" tells *why* you cannot do something. "かねます" shows you are being humble.

Watch out: Do not mix up '〜わけにはいかない' and '〜わけがない'. '〜わけにはいかない' means you cannot do something. This is because of rules or your situation. For example, you cannot say no to your boss. '〜わけがない' means something is surely not true. For example, 'He would never say no to his boss.' The first one is about what you cannot do. The second one is about what cannot be true.

Contrasts with(1)

〜ことはできません

This phrase means you cannot do something. It shows that an action is not possible. You use it for rules or when you firmly say "no".

More formal alternatives(1)

〜のは難しいです

This phrase means something is hard to do. You can use it to politely say no to a request.

Less formal alternatives(1)

〜かねます

A formal and indirect way to express that one is unable or finds it difficult to do something. It is often used in business contexts to politely refuse a request.

辞書形

This is the basic form of a verb. It is what you find in a dictionary. You use it to make other verb forms.

ない形

This is how you make a verb negative. It means "do not" or "will not." It is the casual way to say 〜ません.

〜わけにはいかない

You cannot do something. This is because of rules or what people expect. You might want to do it, but you just can't.

ます形

This is a polite verb ending. You use it to show respect. It is the basic way to speak politely in Japanese.

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Dictionary

〜わけにはいきません

This means you cannot do something. It is not because you are unable. It is because it is wrong or not allowed.

N3 KMT6PoliteStandardAuxiliary ConstructionMixedFormal Refusal And InabilityGrammar

Verb [dictionary form] + わけにはいきませんPrimary

Verb [dictionary form] + わけにはいかない

Verb [ない-form] + わけにはいきません

Verb [ない-form] + わけにはいかない

This means you cannot do something. It is not because you are unable. It is because it is wrong or not allowed.

申し訳ありませんが、そのご提案は受け入れるわけにはいきません。

I'm very sorry, but I cannot possibly accept that proposal.

PoliteNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeBusiness & Finance Work & Career

明日は大事な試験があるから、勉強しないわけにはいかない。

I have an important exam tomorrow, so I have no choice but to study.

NeutralNon PastNegativeSentence EndingNecessityEducation Daily Life

約束した手前、行かないわけにはいかなかったが、本当は気乗りしなかった。

Having made a promise, I had no choice but to go, but honestly I didn't feel like it.

NeutralPastNegativeMid SentenceNecessityDaily Life Family & Relationships

病気の子供を一人で家に置いていくわけにはいかない。

I can't possibly leave my sick child at home alone.

NeutralNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingProhibitionFamily & Relationships Medicine & Health

お客様の個人情報ですので、お教えするわけにはいきませんが、ご本人様であれば確認可能です。

As this is the customer's personal information, I cannot disclose it to you, but if you are the person in question, confirmation is possible.

PoliteNon PastAffirmativeMid SentenceProhibitionBusiness & Finance Work & Career

This grammar is like saying, "I really can't do that." It's not that you are unable. It's more like you shouldn't. Or you must not. It's because of rules or what people expect.

Contrasts with(1)

〜ことはできません

This phrase means you cannot do something. It shows that an action is not possible. You use it for rules or when you firmly say "no".

More formal alternatives(1)

〜のは難しいです

This phrase means something is hard to do. You can use it to politely say no to a request.

Less formal alternatives(1)

〜かねます

A formal and indirect way to express that one is unable or finds it difficult to do something. It is often used in business contexts to politely refuse a request.

辞書形

This is the basic form of a verb. It is what you find in a dictionary. You use it to make other verb forms.

ない形

This is how you make a verb negative. It means "do not" or "will not." It is the casual way to say 〜ません.

〜わけにはいかない

You cannot do something. This is because of rules or what people expect. You might want to do it, but you just can't.

ます形

This is a polite verb ending. You use it to show respect. It is the basic way to speak politely in Japanese.

Track your mastery

Kumi's KMT system tracks your mastery across kanji, vocabulary, grammar, and reading. Create a free account to use it on 220,000+ concepts.

〜わけにはいきません

Patterns4

Meaning

Examples5

Nuance1

Contrasts1

Common Mistakes1

Compare with3

Contrasts with(1)

More formal alternatives(1)

Less formal alternatives(1)

Prerequisites4

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〜わけにはいきません

Patterns4

Meaning

Examples5

Nuance1

Contrasts1

Common Mistakes1

Compare with3

Contrasts with(1)

More formal alternatives(1)

Less formal alternatives(1)

Prerequisites4

Track your mastery