わけだso that's why; which means
Things add up. You hear the reason for something you had noticed: "no wonder", "so that's why". Or you work out what the facts come to: "which means".
no wonder
She has practiced the piano every day since childhood. No wonder she plays so well.
which means
According to the schedule, the bus comes at ten, thirty and fifty minutes past every hour, which means one comes every twenty minutes.
How to form it
Plain form + わけだ
A な-adjective takes な: 上手なわけだ. After a noun, な or という: 休みなわけだ, 休みというわけだ. Polite: わけです.
No wonder
You had noticed something and didn't know why. Then you hear the reason, and it makes sense.
There has been a line at this bakery since this morning.
Everything is half price today.
I see. So that's why it is so crowded.
なるほど and それで often lead in. Said to the other person, it often ends in ね.
She lived in Japan for ten years? No wonder her Japanese is so good.
どうりで is "no wonder" by itself, and often comes in front.
It goes on what you noticed, not on the reason
The window is open. No wonder it's cold.
わけだ goes on what you had noticed: the cold.
It's cold because the window is open.
The reason itself takes からだ.
Which means
From what you have read or been told, you work out what follows. つまり, "in other words", often comes first, and というわけだ wraps the conclusion up.
All participants must be at least eighteen. In other words, a seventeen-year-old cannot participate.
Said back to someone, it checks what you have understood.
Sorry, I'm working both Saturday and Sunday this week.
So we can't meet this weekend, then.
No wonder, or which means?
Oh, today is a public holiday. So that's why the bank is closed.
You already knew the bank was closed. The reason is the news.
Oh, today is a public holiday. So that means the bank is closed.
The bank being closed is the news. You have just figured it out.
はずだ or わけだ?
はずだ is an expectation: you haven't checked, and you could be wrong. わけだ has no doubt in it: the thing is so, or it simply follows.
According to the guide, the museum should be open today.
You haven't been there yet. You expect it.
It turns out today is a special closing day. So that's why the entrance is shut.
You are at the closed door, and now you know why.
In the "no wonder" use, はずだ works too: 寒いはずだ.
Three set phrases
というわけでand so
And so, that is all for today's class.
そういうわけでthat's why
That's why I can't come to next week's meeting.
The four わけ
Four endings are built on わけ, the reason behind something, and they mean quite different things.
わけがないN3
"There's no way": it couldn't be so. Spoken: わけない.
It's this cheap, so there's no way it's the real thing.
わけではないN3
"It's not that…", "not exactly": it takes back a conclusion without saying the opposite.
This job is not exactly easy, but it is rewarding.
わけにはいかないN3
"I can't very well…": you could, but duty, manners or your position stop you. After a negative, "I can't very well not": you have to.
My staff are still working, so I can't very well be the only one to go home.
Close neighbours
ということはN2
"That means…". It opens the conclusion, where わけだ closes it.
If the two of us each pay half, that means 3,000 yen each.
Check yourself
1Which one fits?
A
Choose an answer to see why.
2Which one fits?
おかしいな。
Choose an answer to see why.
3What is B doing?
A
Choose an answer to see why.
More detail
In talks and interviews, sentence after sentence ends in わけです. There it is little more than "you see".
So at thirty I quit my company and opened the shop, you see.
More sentences
Cars cannot use this road in the morning. That explains why it is so quiet now.
This membership card is valid for one year from its issue date. It was issued on April 10, which means it can be used through April 9 next year.
Only students qualify for this discount. That means I, as a company employee, have to pay the regular price.