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Grammar › N3 · 08 Opinion, necessity & cannot-help

〜ないわけにはいかない: cannot avoid doing; have to

N3 · 08 Opinion, necessity & cannot-help

Says you have to do something because of your situation or duty.

Verb ない-form without ない, then ないわけにはいかない (する → しないわけにはいかない). A double negative: "I cannot not do it". It feels like duty, not wish. Similar to 〜ざるを得ない, which is more formal.

Examples

It is my boss's request, so I can't avoid going.

The exam is tomorrow, so I can't help but study.

Study 〜ないわけにはいかない in the course →