The kanji 訳 (わけ) means “translation” or “inference” and it can be used in a number of different ways to express or disaffirm a conclusion based on context or reason. Used in this way the word is very often written in hiragana.
| 週に３回以上ジムに通っていたら会員になったほうがお得なわけです。 |
| If you’re going to the gym more than three times per week then it would make sense to become a member. |
| 嬉そうな顔をしているけど、入試に合格したわけなんだね？ |
| You look happy—that means you’ve passed the entrance exam, right? |
| そういうわけで、すぐに来たんだよ。 |
| That’s why I came immediately. |
Used in this way わけ actually has a slightly dated ring to it—the sort of language you might hear in a period drama or a samurai movie but not among younger friends. Couple it with the negative auxiliary verb, however, and we have a very common and useful phrase that can be used to stop the listener inferring the natural conclusion from the context. It’s closest English translation might be, “that doesn’t mean…”
| 大学でロシア語を勉強したけど、ペラペラと話せるわけではない。 |
| I studied Russian in university, but that doesn’t mean that I can speak fluently. |
| 会計士資格を持っているんだけど、数学が得意なわけではありません。 |
| I hold an accountancy qualification, but that doesn’t mean I’m good at maths. |
わけではない is often heard with the phrase という. Used together the closest translation would be “that’s not to say…”
| 全く悪いというわけではない。 |
| That’s not to say it’s altogether bad. |
| お金があれば必ず幸せになれるというわけではありません。 |
| Having money doesn’t necessarily mean that you can be happy. |
| 餃子が好きだけど、毎日食べたいというわけじゃないよ。 |
| I like gyoza, but that’s not to say that I want to eat it every day. |
| 予約する必要があるというわけじゃないけど、レストランが大人気だから事前に電話しておいたほうがいいかも。 |
| I don’t mean to say that you must make a booking, but the restaurant is very popular so it might be better to give them a call beforehand. |