Explanation

わけがない is used to express that there is no reason or possibility for something to happen. It is often translated as 'There is no way that...' or 'It is impossible that...'.

Personalized Lesson For You!

Key Formation

• Verb (potential form) + わけがない

  飛べるわけがない (There is no way I can fly)

• Noun + では + わけがない

  彼女が泣いているではないわけがない (There is no way she is crying)

Example Sentences

• 彼が日本語を話せるわけがない。

  There is no way he can speak Japanese.

  かれがにほんごをはなせるわけがない。

  Kare ga nihongo o hanaseru wake ga nai.

  Pronunciation

• こんな高い店で買い物するわけがない。

  There is no way I would shop at such an expensive store.

  こんなたかいみせでかいものするわけがない。

  Konna takai mise de kaimono suru wake ga nai.

  Pronunciation

• 彼が犯人だなんて、わけがない。 (Inspired by a detective novel)

  There is no way he could be the culprit.

  かれがはんにんだなんて、わけがない。

  Kare ga hannin da nante, wake ga nai.

  Pronunciation

• 明日のテストに合格できるわけがない。

  There is no way I can pass tomorrow's test.

  あすのてすとにごうかくできるわけがない。

  Ashita no tesuto ni goukaku dekiru wake ga nai.

  Pronunciation

• 彼が私に気があるわけがない。

  There is no way he would be interested in me.

  かれがわたしにきがあるわけがない。

  Kare ga watashi ni ki ga aru wake ga nai.

  Pronunciation

Usage Notes

Notes and Tips for JLPT students

Related Grammar, and what's the difference?

• わけではない (wake dewa nai) - (N3)
  - わけがない (wake ga nai) and わけではない (wake dewa nai) have a similar meaning of 'There is no reason', but わけではない (wake dewa nai) is used to soften the negation and express a milder denial.
• ことはない (koto wa nai) - (N3)
  - Both わけがない (wake ga nai) and ことはない (koto wa nai) are used to express that there is no reason or need to do something. However, ことはない (koto wa nai) is more commonly used for giving advice or reassurance.
• はずがない (hazu ga nai) - (N3)
  - はずがない (hazu ga nai) is used to express that something is unlikely or should not happen based on expectations or logical reasoning. It implies the speaker's expectations of how things should be.

Useful Vocabulary that appeared in this page

• * 彼 (かれ)hePronunciation
• * 日本語 (にほんご)Japanese languagePronunciation
• * 話せる (はなせる)can speakPronunciation
• * 買い物 (かいもの)shoppingPronunciation
• * 高い (たかい)expensivePronunciation
• * 店 (みせ)storePronunciation
• * 犯人 (はんにん)culpritPronunciation
• * 明日 (あす)tomorrowPronunciation
• * 合格 (ごうかく)passPronunciation
• * テスト (てすと)testPronunciation
• * 気 (き)feelingPronunciation
• * 名前 (なまえ)namePronunciation

Quiz

Which of the following means 'There is no way I can eat that'?

• それを食べるわけがない。
• それを食べられるわけがない。
• それを食べないわけがない。