What does ～わけだ mean? Japanese grammar N3

Forming it

How to use it

Presents a conclusion or interpretation drawn naturally from information just learned; corresponds to "no wonder", "so that means…".

• 「～わけだ」 presents a CONCLUSION or a reasonable interpretation drawn from a situation/information just learned, corresponding to "no wonder", "so that's it", "so that means…".
• Usually follows a fact just stated: once A is known, B is a conclusion that naturally follows.
• Different from 「～はずだ」 (a well-grounded assumption): 「わけだ」 emphasizes a LOGICAL conclusion that naturally follows from what is already known.

Examples

• 彼(かれ)は十(じゅう)年(ねん)も日本(にっぽん)に住(す)んでいた。日本語(にほんご)が上手(じょうず)なわけだ。

  He lived in Japan for ten years. No wonder his Japanese is good.

• 電車(でんしゃ)が止(と)まっているのか。それで駅(えき)が混(こ)んでいるわけだ。

  So the trains are stopped. That’s why the station is crowded.

• 窓(まど)が開(ひら)いている。道理(どうり)で部屋(へや)が寒(さむ)いわけだ。

  The window is open. No wonder the room is cold.

Keep in mind

• Nouns and な-adjectives connect with 「な」 (学生なわけだ, 上手なわけだ).
• 「という わけだ」 is used to wrap up an explanation.

Common mistakes

• Wrong明日(あした)は晴(は)れるわけだ。

  It should be sunny tomorrow.

  Correct明日(あした)は晴(は)れるはずだ。

  A well-grounded future assumption uses 「はずだ」; 「わけだ」 is a natural conclusion from something ALREADY known.

• Wrong彼(かれ)は先生(せんせい)だわけだ。

  No wonder — so he's a teacher.

  Correct彼(かれ)は先生(せんせい)なわけだ。

  A noun connects to 「わけだ」 with 「な」 (先生なわけだ).

• Wrong彼女(かのじょ)が遅(おく)れたのは、電車(でんしゃ)が遅(おく)れたわけだ。

  I hear the train was late. No wonder she was late.

  Correct電車(でんしゃ)が遅(おく)れたそうだ。それで彼女(かのじょ)は遅(おく)れたわけだ。

  The cause is stated in the PRECEDING sentence; 「わけだ」 seals the conclusion and does not belong in the reason clause.

• Wrong今日(きょう)は休(やす)みわけだ。

  So it turns out today is a holiday.

  Correct今日(きょう)は休(やす)みというわけだ。

  A noun connects through 「という」.

Exam tips

• 「わけだ」 = a natural conclusion from what is known; don't confuse it with the assumption 「はずだ」.

Related patterns

• ～はずだ
• ～わけではない
• ～から