「Learn Japanese」 ~訳には行かない as “must (not)~, can’t afford to~, etc.” (わけ Grammar Patterns Pt. 5)

「Learn Japanese」 ~訳には行かない as “must (not)~, it is not okay to~, have no choice but to~, can’t afford to~, impossible to~ (although one may want to)”

訳 (わけ) MASTERPOST:
http://learnjapanese.becauseofdreams.com/2017/03/01/the-%e8%a8%b3-%e3%82%8f%e3%81%91-masterpost/

The grammar ~訳にはいかない has the same meaning as the basic grammar pattern ～てはいけない, which most commonly translates to “must not do~.” It is, however, much less common due to it being more formal. It also expresses a stronger emphasis.

*Worth noting is that ~訳にはいかない exhibits a unique case of いかない as opposed to いけない.

While ～てはいけない requires the て-Form of a VERB word or the “て-Form” of a Negative- ない-Form VERB word, ~訳にはいかない instead either requires the Dictionary-Form of a VERB word or the Negative-ない-Form to mean “must not do VERB” and “must do VERB” respectively. (The positive usage of a verb results in a negative statement and vice versa due to the negative nature of the phrases いけない and いかない.)

Construction:

Dictionary-Form VERB + 訳には行かない = “must not VERB”
Negative-ない-Form + 訳には行かない = “must VERB” (must not not VERB)
*The polite version is 訳にはいきません

Example(s):

妹は一人で家にいますから真っ直ぐ帰宅しないわけには行かない。
Imouto wa hitori de uchi ni imasu kara massugu kitaku shinai wake niwa ikanai.
(My sister is at home alone right now so I must return straight home.)

この贈り物を受け取るわけにはいきません。
Kono okurimono o uketoru wake ni wa ikimasen
It’s not possible for me to accept this gift.

彼はこのチームのエースだ。辞めさせるわけには行かないよ。
Kare wa kono team no ace da. Yamesaseru wake niwa ikanai yo.
He is the ace of this team. We can’t afford to let him quit.

僕は指名運転者だから酔うわけにはいかない
Boku wa shimeiuntensha da kara you wake ni wa ikanai
I’m the designated driver tonight so I can’t afford to get intoxicated.

一つの規準ですべてを律するわけには いかない。
Hitotsu no kijun de subete o rissuru wake ni wa ikanai
You mustn’t judge everything single thing by one standard.

そうやすやすと引き下がるわけにはいきませんよ。
Sou yasuyasu to hikisagaru wake ni wa ikimasenyo
I cannot afford to back down so easily.

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