わけだ (wake da) Meaning Japanese Grammar - That's Why...

The expression わけだ literally means it is the reason, it is the cause, or that's why.

訳(わけ) is a noun followed by the copula だ in its plain form and です in the polite form. The respective negative forms are わけではない and わけではありません.

In this post, we’ll explore the meaning of わけだ, how it is formed, and when it is used with examples from everyday usage as well as sentences taken from online sources.

We’ll also take a look at the variations わけがある and わけがない, which include the verb ある exist and express a slightly different nuance compared to when the copula だ is used.

How わけだ is formed

The structure we are going to examine is made up of the noun わけ combined with the copula だ／です.

わけ also has a kanji transcription 訳(わけ), and among its various meanings we find reason, explanation and conclusion. The same kanji is also used to express translations, and in that case it is read as やく.

• イタリア語(ご)訳(やく) Italian translation, Italian version
• 英(えい)語(ご)訳(やく) English translation, English version

When referring to Japanese translations, the terms 日本(にほん)語(ご)訳(やく) and 和(わ)訳(やく) are used. Both mean translation into Japanese. Nihongo-yaku is slightly more formal and is used in academic contexts, while Wa-yaku is more informal and common in everyday or educational settings.

In Japanese conversations, you may hear the word 良(い)い訳(わけ), which means an acceptable or plausible reason, but it also carries a negative nuance such as excuse, justification, or pretext.

わけだ to express reasons and motivations

わけだ uses わけ (reason, motive) together with the copula だ/です in the affirmative form.

It is used to express a logical conclusion or an explanation based on what has been said or observed.

The translation depends on the context of the sentence, but it can be rendered as: that’s why…, or so it means that…

Literally: "She has extensive experience studying abroad, so she speaks English like a native speaker."

わけだ is obvious

わけだ is often used to express a logical conclusion or a situation that is predictable based on facts or circumstances already known. It indicates something obvious that is not surprising, because there is a clear explanation.

わけではない does not mean that

The expression わけではない is commonly used when you want to partially deny or correct a mistaken interpretation.

Some possible translations are: it’s not that…,this doesn’t necessarily mean that…,this doesn’t imply that… etc.

わけではない and わけじゃない are more colloquial forms, while わけではありません is more formal.

わけがある there is a reason if

In this form, the term わけ is combined with the verb ある (be, exist), and the literal meaning is: there is a reason, there is a motive,

It is used to express a valid reason, to explain or justify something that might at first seem strange or inexplicable.

わけがない there is no reason that

わけがない uses the negative form of the verb ある (exist), ない (does not exist), and indicates that there is no reason or motive for something, that is, that something is impossible” or very unlikely.

It can be translated as: it can’t be that…, it’s impossible that…, it’s very unlikely that….

The sentence implies that “She would never lie”.

"Come on, it can’t be that my sister is that cute!"

申(もう)し訳(わけ)ございません for offering apologies

Here, わけ appears in an extremely formal and humble expression used to offer one’s apologies to someone.

It is formed by:

• 申(もう)し, which comes from the verb 申(もう)す, the humble form in Keigo (honorific language) of the verb 言(い)う say
• 訳(わけ) reason,motive
• ございません, the humble Keigo form of ありません does notexist, there isn’t

So literally: “there is no (sufficient or acceptable) reason” → used to mean “I apologize” or “I offer my apologies.”

わけが分(わ)からない absurd, illogical

わけが分からない is an expression you may hear in conversation and is often translated with adjectives like absurd, incomprehensible, nonsense, or meaningless.

Other translations:

• I don't understand what you're saying.
• What you're saying is incomprehensible.

The translation is closely tied to the situation the manga character is experiencing. Most likely, someone is saying nonsensical things, or something incomprehensible is happening.

～というわけで therefore, so

The expression という訳(わけ)で is used to introduce a conclusion or a consequence based on what was said before.

Depending on the context, it can be translated as therefore, thus, for this reason, that’s why, so or as a result.

• That’s why I can’t go.
• Because of that, I can't go.

“It has been raining since this morning. For this reason, the match was canceled”.