Meaning & usage
わけにはいかない expresses that someone cannot do something because of duty, social expectations, or circumstances, even if they might want to. It follows the dictionary form of a volitional verb, as in 捨てるわけにはいかない, and follows the ない form to mean must, as in 休まないわけにはいかない. It does not describe physical inability, and it is normally written with いかない in hiragana.
Example sentences 4
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本当に捨てるわけにはいかないよ。
We can't really throw it away!
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君がそうすることを許すわけにはいかない。
I can't allow you to do that.
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もうこれ以上延ばすわけにはいかない。
I can't put it off any longer.
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私はその言葉を聞き捨てにするわけにはいかない。
I cannot let the remark pass by in silence.
In past JLPT papers
This came up in 3 past exam questions.
