Grammar JLPT Level N3 - Lesson 13
Structure of 訳(わけ)だ:
Verb + (という) + わけだ
[い]Adjective + (という) + わけだ
[な]Adjective + な(1) + わけだ
Noun + の(1) + わけだ
(1) という
Details about 訳(わけ)だ:
One of the most misunderstood words in Japanese is 訳. Of the many ways it can be translated, the most common are 'reason', 'cause', 'meaning', or 'conclusion'. Despite this, it may be beneficial to consider it almost identical to an equally versatile English word 'so'.
In all of its uses, わけ simply highlights the plain existence/determination of something in the same way that 'so' does in English. This can be seen in its most basic form in わけだ. A combination of わけ and the auxiliary verb だ.
わけだ will be used at the end of sentences, and is sometimes preceded by という. This use is often translated as 'for the reason of (A)', 'no wonder its (A)', or 'its (A), as you'd expect'. Realistically though, it just means 'it is so that it's (A)', or 'so it's (A)'.
わけ may also be used in questions, implying that the speaker is trying to determine something that they have heard. わけだね 'so its (A) right?', and わけですか 'so is it that (A)?' are good examples of this.
In all of its uses, わけ simply highlights the plain existence/determination of something in the same way that 'so' does in English. This can be seen in its most basic form in わけだ. A combination of わけ and the auxiliary verb だ.
わけだ will be used at the end of sentences, and is sometimes preceded by という. This use is often translated as 'for the reason of (A)', 'no wonder its (A)', or 'its (A), as you'd expect'. Realistically though, it just means 'it is so that it's (A)', or 'so it's (A)'.
- 事故で電車が遅れたの?だから珍しく遅れて来たというわけだ。The train was late due to an accident? So that's why you came in unusually late.
- 指の骨が折れていたのですね。だから指を動かしたら痛かったという訳ですね。You are saying that my finger was broken? So that's why my finger hurt when I moved it.
- やっぱり全然練習してないでしょ?どうりで一年たっても下手なわけだ。As I expected, you didn't practice at all, did you? No wonder you haven't improved even after a year.
- 今日は休日か。だから定休日のわけだ。Today is a holiday, isn't it? So that's why they are closed today.
わけ may also be used in questions, implying that the speaker is trying to determine something that they have heard. わけだね 'so its (A) right?', and わけですか 'so is it that (A)?' are good examples of this.
- 俺と一緒にいたくないわけだね?分かったよ。So you are saying that you don't want to be with me, right? I understand.
- 先輩たちは後から来るというわけですか?Senpai, so will you be coming later?
訳(わけ)だ
Usage Notes for 訳(わけ)だ:
Synonyms for 訳(わけ)だ:
だけのことはある
No wonder, Not surprising that, As expected
はずだ
Bound to (be), Expected to (be), Should be (able)
だけに
As might be expected, Because, All the more because, It's only natural
ため(に)
For, For the sake of, In order to
ことだ
Should, Ought
はずがない
Hardly possible, Cannot be, Highly unlikely, Improbable
Example of 訳(わけ)だ
雪が降っていた。寒いわけだ。
It snowed. This is why it is cold.
お金を無駄に使っている。貯金がないわけです。
You waste your money. No wonder you have no savings.
彼女は医者になりたいから、医学の勉強をするわけだ。
Since she wants to be a doctor, this is why she is studying in the medical field.
道理でうまくいかなかったわけだ。前提がずっと間違っていたのだから。
No wonder it didn't turn out well. The premise was wrong all along.
人一倍努力している。彼は成功するわけだ。
He works twice as hard as others. This is why, he is successful.
Grammar same lesson
関係(かんけい)がある
(Not) involved with, (Not) concerned with, (No) connection with, (No) relationship with, (Not) related to
See details

JLPT Practice
Review after tedious theory lessons.

JLPT Mock Test
Let’s see how far you’ve honed your knowledge!