訳(わけ)

わけ
noun
reason, meaning; the fact is
1. reason, cause
The reason or explanation for something.
遅(おく)れた訳(わけ)を教(おし)えてください。
Please tell me the reason you were late.
訳(わけ)が分(わ)からない。
I don't understand (the reason/meaning).
Common expression of confusion
断(ことわ)った訳(わけ)は何(なん)ですか。
What is the reason you refused?
訳(わけ)もなく泣(な)いた。
I cried for no reason.
辞(や)めた訳(わけ)を聞(き)いてみたが、何(なに)も言(い)わなかった。
I asked the reason for quitting, but they didn't say anything.
2. meaning, sense
What something means or signifies.
そういう訳(わけ)ではありません。
That's not what I mean. / It's not like that.
Common expression
訳(わけ)が分(わ)からない。
I don't understand (the reason/meaning).
Common expression of confusion
この文(ぶん)の訳(わけ)が分(わ)からない。
I don't understand the meaning of this sentence.
言葉(ことば)の訳(わけ)を調(しら)べた。
I looked up the meaning of the word.
訳(わけ)の分(わ)からないことを言(い)う。
To say things that don't make sense.
3. the fact is, it means that
Used to explain a situation or draw a conclusion.
彼(かれ)が怒(おこ)る訳(わけ)がない。
There's no way he would be angry.
～わけがない pattern
電車(でんしゃ)が遅(おく)れたので、遅刻(ちこく)した訳(わけ)です。
The train was delayed, that's why I was late.
～わけだ pattern explaining reasons
日本(にほん)に住(す)んでいたので、日本語(にほんご)が話(はな)せる訳(わけ)だ。
Since I lived in Japan, that's why I can speak Japanese.
知(し)らない訳(わけ)ではない。
It's not that I don't know.
行(い)きたくない訳(わけ)ではありません。
It's not that I don't want to go.
簡単(かんたん)にできる(できる)訳(わけ)がない。
There's no way it can be done easily.
忘(わす)れる訳(わけ)がないでしょう。
There's no way I would forget, right?

訳(わけ) has multiple uses: as a noun meaning "reason" or "meaning," and as a grammatical element in set patterns that explain or evaluate situations.

KEY PATTERNS:

  • ～訳(わけ)だ: that's why, it means that (draws a logical conclusion)
  • ～訳(わけ)ではない: it's not that ~, it doesn't mean that ~ (partial denial)
  • ～訳(わけ)がない: there's no way that ~ (strong denial of possibility)
  • ～訳(わけ)にはいかない: cannot possibly ~ (due to social/moral reasons)
  • ～という訳(わけ)だ: the thing is, what it means is

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

  • 訳(わけ)が分(わ)からない: incomprehensible, makes no sense
  • 訳(わけ)もなく: for no reason, without cause

SIMILAR WORDS:

Often written in hiragana わけ rather than kanji, especially in grammatical patterns.

core
Added 2026.1.7 21:24 · Revised 2026.3.5 20:42
01000/01095_wake