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Grammar detail: ないわけにはいかない

ないわけにはいかない  can't very well not do; have to do
102 words
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Grammar Pattern
verb plain negative
+
わけにはいかない
means
can't very well not ~; can't just not; have to ~
When わけにはいかない follows a negative clause, as we would expect 'can't very well ~' now becomes 'can't very well not ~'. In English a more natural way of saying 'can't very well not' would often be 'have to do' or 'must do'.
ないわけにはいかない implies a sense of 'moral' obligation to do Y / Y cannot be avoided, because of the circumstances of X.
例文: Example Sentences
やくそく
約束
したから
かない
わけにはいかない
I made a promise to go, so I can't very well not go.
さび
しそう
だったから
こえ
をかけない
わけにはいかなかった
She looked lonely, so I couldn't very well not say anything!
かい
だから
さけ
まない
わけにはいかないよね
It's a gathering over drinks, so I have to drink, right?
なに
やらないわけにはいかない
You can't just do nothing.
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Kanji used in this grammar

レイ   example   たとえる to illustrate, to compare   たとえば for example   
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ブン   モン    literature   ふみ a letter   
コウ   ギョウ   アン   ゆ    い to go   おこな to take place   
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ヤク    promise; approximate   
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ソク   たば bundle   たばねる to tie in a bundle   
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ジャク   セキ   さびしい lonely   さび elegant simplicity   さびれる to go downhill, to decline   
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セイ   ショウ   こえ voice   こわ- voice   
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イン   の to drink   
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カイ   エ   あ to meet   
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シュ   さけ    さか- sake   
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カ   なに    なん what?   
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