Sections

わけWake: what it means in anime

わけ · wake

reason; meaning

JLPT N4Everyday speech19 of 42 series

Wake means "reason" or "meaning". そんなわけない is the anime classic for "no way" or "that can't be", literally "there is no reason for that".

Updated October 24, 2026

Where you hear it

よりデスノートを使いやすくなるというわけかDoes that mean it will be easier to use Death Note?

Death NoteEpisode 3 · 10 lines in episodes 1–3
俺の死はムダじゃなかったわけだThat means my death wasn't in vain.

KonoSubaEpisode 1 · 8 lines in episodes 1–3
そんな怪物がどういうわけか僕らの担任になることを希望したFor whatever reason, this creature wanted to be our teacher.

Assassination ClassroomEpisode 2 · 6 lines in episodes 1–3
More examples (16)
- まあ完璧主義なわけよI mean, I'm a perfectionist.
  
  My Hero AcademiaEpisode 1 · 5 lines in episodes 1–3
- 私に教えてくれたわけだから―
  
  Re:ZeroEpisode 1 · 14 lines in episodes 1–3
- 別にオタクというわけではない
  
  HorimiyaEpisode 1 · 13 lines in episodes 1–3
- 生まれる世界を間違えたわけだ
  
  No Game No LifeEpisode 1 · 11 lines in episodes 1–3
- 廃部？それの何が困るわけ？
  
  Mob Psycho 100Episode 2 · 10 lines in episodes 1–3
- こんな所で死ぬわけにはいかねえんだ
  
  One PieceEpisode 2 · 9 lines in episodes 1–3
- 精神力も同時に試されるわけだな
  
  Hunter x HunterEpisode 3 · 8 lines in episodes 1–3
- 一般人に見えるわけなかろう
  
  BleachEpisode 3 · 8 lines in episodes 1–3
- 無理だよ勝てるわけない
  
  Attack on TitanEpisode 2 · 7 lines in episodes 1–3
- 観光がてらはせ参じたってわけ
  
  Jujutsu KaisenEpisode 2 · 7 lines in episodes 1–3
- 対天使用の作戦本部というわけ
  
  Angel Beats!Episode 1 · 7 lines in episodes 1–3
- すれ違っていたわけでもない―
  
  Psycho-PassEpisode 1 · 7 lines in episodes 1–3
- 私はこの街まで来たわけじゃない
  
  Sword Art OnlineEpisode 2 · 6 lines in episodes 1–3
- 私賞金でも懸かってるわけ？
  
  Cowboy BebopEpisode 3 · 6 lines in episodes 1–3
- 片方が欠けるわけにはいかねえだろうが！
  
  Dr. StoneEpisode 2 · 6 lines in episodes 1–3
- ああ俺がやったわけじゃないからな
  
  Soul EaterEpisode 2 · 5 lines in episodes 1–3

Lines from the Japanese subtitles of episodes 1–3 of each show. A translation is shown only when it clearly matches the line; counts are subtitle lines containing the word.

Usage and nuance

そういうわけで is "and that is why" or "so that is how it is". It wraps up an explanation, often with a shrug.

わけがわからない is "I can't make sense of it" or "this makes no sense", the line for a character overwhelmed by a strange situation.

言い訳 (iiwake) is "an excuse", and 言い訳するな is "no excuses!". Written in kanji the word is 訳, the same kanji as in 翻訳, "translation".

Hear わけ in Death Note10 lines in episodes 1–3 · tappable subtitles · free, no account

Where you hear it

Usage and nuance

Related words