Can’t not
No way to avoid
Structure
- Verb[ ない ] + わけにはいかない
I was wondering, if I wanted to say: When I think about OO I can’t help feel sorry/sympathy for them… I guess I could say
。。。〇〇を考えているときは、同情しないわけには行かない。
?
I looked up the grammar in Dictionary of Intermediate Japanese Grammar and it appears that would not be a typical use of the phrase. The entry describes the grammar as, “A phrase which is used to indicate that one cannot do … due to an external circumstance” (p. 581). The examples given then all show actions being prevented by circumstances (obstructions, conflicts, obligations, etc.). There aren’t any examples pertaining to feelings, emotions, etc.
ないわけにはいかない (p. 583) can also be thought of as “no other choice but to do…,” which would not fit an emotional statement, per se. With emotions, there would not be any choice or doing, per se–not in the way that this phrase would imply, anyway.
What is the difference between these two grammar structures? They seem to have the same meaning. Both share the basic meaning of “need to do.”
Cant help but doing =Vないではいらない
No way to avoid doing=Vないわけにはいかない
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For ないではいらない and ないわけにはいかない I think the difference might be the first is more compulsory whereas the latter is more of a foregone conclusion. The English translations you listed tend to blur this distinction, but when you consider ないではいらない is “cannot resist” and ないわけにはいかない is “no way to avoid,” I think the nuance might come through a little better.
I got the いられない grammar points wrong several times before it started to sink in.
Hey there!
They do have a very similar translation, but the nuance they have is different. ずにはいられない is used when you can’t help (control) yourself but to do something or act a certain way. ないわけにはいかない is usually used when you have to do something because there is an external force making you do something.
For example,
こんな美味しそうなケーキが目の前にあったら、食べずにはいられない。The nuance this carries is ‘If there was a cake that looks as delicious as this in front of me, I won’t be able to pass the opportunity to eat it (because I love cake and it looks delicious).’ In this sentence you have a reason why you cannot resist.
友達が頑張って誕生日ケーキを作ってくれたから、不味くても食べないわけにはいかない。The nuance this has is ‘Because my friend tried their best and made me a birthday cake, there is no way I am not going to eat it even if it taste bad (because if I don’t eat it, it is going to hurt my friend’s feelings).’ In this sentence, you need to act a certain way because of a reason that is outside of your control.
I hope that makes sense!
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