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そうはいかない Japanese meaning | Kotomora

そうはいかない

Meanings

1

expression

not a chance; that's not going to happen; that won't work

usually written using kana alone

Colloquial expression dismissing a suggestion or expectation as impossible or unrealistic. Often used in casual conversation.

そんなに簡かん単たんに勝かてると思おもってるの？そうはいかないよ。
You think you can win that easily? Not a chance.
明日あしたまでに全ぜん部ぶ終おわらせるなんて、そうはいかない。
There's no way we can finish everything by tomorrow.

Kanji

行going, journey, carry out

Similar words

そうは問とん屋やが卸おろさない
A longer, more emphatic and somewhat old-fashioned version of the same idea, literally 'the wholesaler won't let that happen'.

Etymology

From そう (so, like that) + は (topic particle) + 行かない (iku, to go, in negative form). Literally 'it doesn't go that way', used idiomatically to mean 'that won't work' or 'that's not going to happen'.