Wake ga nai v.s. Wake niwa ikanai

As you reach an advanced level of Japanese, you’ll start seeing many expressions containing the word "wake" (わけ). Examples include wake ni wa ikanai, wake ga nai, wake de wa nai, and wake da. You might wonder, "What does wake actually mean?"

I’m often asked, "I don’t get the difference between wake ni wa ikanai and wake ga nai. Don't they both just mean 'cannot'?" So today, I’m going to explain that difference. This will be even easier to understand if you watch it along with our YouTube lesson!

First, let’s look at the meaning of wake. According to the dictionary:

• Wake (わけ) = Dori (道理)

• Dori (道理) = Reason

In this context, "reason" is defined as:

What is right, practical, or possible; common sense or judgment.

Wake ga nai means there is no existence or possibility of "reason" (including what is right, possible, or common sense). In other words, it can be replaced with expressions like "unbelievable" or "impossible."

For example, since it is impossible for it to snow in Tokyo in May, you can say:

• Tokyo de gogatsu ni yuki ga furu wake ga nai. (It’s impossible for it to snow in Tokyo in May.)

Someone who doesn't believe in Santa Claus might say:

• Santa Claus ga iru wake ga nai. (There's no way Santa exists.)

Next, there is the expression dori o wakimaeru, which means "to know reason well." A person who "knows reason" cannot take actions that are not reasonable (not in line with dori). This is the core meaning of wake ni wa ikanai.

For example, Mr. Tanaka wants to practice the piano, but a baby is sleeping in the next room. He thinks playing the piano now would not be reasonable. In this case, he says:

• Tonari no heya de ima akachan ga nete iru node, piano o hiku wake ni wa ikanai. (Since a baby is sleeping next door, I cannot [it wouldn't be right to] play the piano.)

Since drunk driving is strictly prohibited, drinking before driving is not reasonable:

• Kuruma de kita kara, osake o nomu wake ni wa ikanai. (I came by car, so I can't drink.)

If your work is due tomorrow and isn't finished yet, you can't go home:

• Shigoto ga owatte inai kara, kaeru wake ni wa ikanai. (Since the work isn't done, I can't go home.)

Conversely, since not working overtime would be unreasonable in that situation, you could also say:

• Shigoto ga owatte inai kara, zangyo shinai wake ni wa ikanai. (Since the work isn't done, I have to work overtime.)

You will often see the following translations, but these alone aren't quite enough and might lead to mistakes:

• Affirmative + wake ni wa ikanai = "cannot"

• Negative + wake ni wa ikanai = "have no choice but to"

It is better to understand them like this:

• Affirmative + wake ni wa ikanai: Due to certain reasons or circumstances, I cannot do something because it would not be reasonable.

• Negative + wake ni wa ikanai: Due to certain reasons or circumstances, I must do something because it is the only reasonable course of action.