わけにはいかない (wakenihaikanai)

Meaning & usage

わけにはいかない expresses that someone cannot do something because of duty, social expectations, or outside circumstances, even if they want to. It attaches to the dictionary form of a verb for not doing something, as in 行くわけにはいかない, and to the ない form for not avoiding something, as in 行かないわけにはいかない. It describes a social or situational restriction rather than physical inability, and it is often used to explain the speaker's own constrained choice.

Example sentences 5

1. 君きみがそうすることを許ゆるすわけにはいかない。

   I can't allow you to do that.

2. 何事も思い通りにするわけにはいかない。

   You cannot have your way in everything.

3. したいしたいって言われても、させるわけにはいかない。

   No matter how much you want to do that, I can't let you.

4. お前にそんなこと、させるわけにはいかないよ。

   I can't let you do that.

5. 子供だからと言って許すわけにはいかない。

   I cannot forgive him just because he is a child.