Today, we’re going to talk about わけだ (wake da). This is a common phrase that has several meanings, but this time, we’ll learn how to use it to say “It makes sense,” or “no wonder”. This also appears in the JLPT N3, so it will come in handy if you plan to take the test.
Using わけだ when You Realize Something
わけだ is used when you’re talking to yourself and is similar to “it makes sense” or “no wonder”. To use わけだ, simply add it to the end of a phrase.
Wi-Fi が繋がってない。サイトが開けなかったわけだ。
Waifai ga tsunagattenai. Saito ga hirakenakatta wake da.
The Wi-Fi isn’t connected. It makes sense that the website couldn’t open.
開く (hiraku) = to open
だ (da) is the informal version of です (desu, to be). It is often used in writing or by males when they are speaking, but you can also use it when you are talking to yourself, when you’re surprised, or when you discover something.
あっ、蝶々だ。
Ah, chouchou da.
Oh, it’s a butterfly.
はぁ、バカだ。
Haa, baka da.
*sigh* He/She’s an idiot.
Similar to わけだ is なるほど (naruhodo), which also means “it makes sense”. Unlike わけだ, you can use なるほど when you’re talking to other people, so you can impress your Japanese friends.
Also, unlike そうですか(sou desu ka, I see) , なるほど sounds like you listened carefully and really understand, so you can use it when someone explains something to you.
Or, you can combine it with わけだ when you’re talking to yourself.
なるほど、サイトが開けなかったわけだ。
Naruhodo, saito ga hirakenakatta wake da.
Oh, I see. It makes sense that the website couldn’t open.
One word that is commonly used with わけだ is 道理で (douri de, it’s no wonder).
道理で〜わけだ
Douri de 〜 wake da
It makes sense that
道理でサイトが開けなかったわけだ。
Douri de saito ga hirakenakatta wake da.
Oh, I see. It makes sense that the website couldn’t open.
The meaning of the sentence is the same whether or not you use 道理で, so feel free to use it whenever you want.
Example Sentences
あみちゃんは、優しいし、頭もいいし、おしゃれだし、モテるわけだ。
Ami-chan wa, yasashii shi, atama mo ii shi, oshare da shi, moteru wake da.
Ami-chan is kind, smart, and fashionable. No wonder everyone fancies her.
モテる(moteru) = to be popular
* Here, し is added after each adjective to list multiple reasons, like saying “on top of that…”
道理でドジって言われるわけだ。
Douri de dojitte iwareru wake da.
No wonder he/she is called clumsy.
日本に来てどのくらい？
Nihon ni kite dono kurai?
How long have you been in Japan?
十年ぐらいかな。
Juu nen gurai ka na.
It’s been about ten years, I guess.
あー、日本語が上手なわけだ。
Aa, nihongo ga jouzu na wake da.
Ah, it makes sense that/ That explains why your Japanese is good.
* Here, you add な(na) since 上手 is an adjective that requires a な.
熱が38度もある。体が怠いわけだ。
Netsu ga san-juu hachi do mo aru. Karada ga darui wake da.
I have a fever of 38 C. No wonder my body feels sluggish.
* Here, も(mo) is placed after 38度 to emphasize a high number.
友達100人もできた。
Tomodachi hyaku-nin mo dekita.
I made a hundred friends!
ゲーセンで一万円も使っちゃった。
Geesen de ichi man en mo tsukacchatta.
Oops! I spent 10,000 yen in the arcade.
このゼリーは美味しいのにカロリーゼロ。人気なわけだ。
Kono zerii wa oishii no ni karorii zero. Ninki na wake da.
This jelly is delicious but has no calories. No wonder it’s popular.
キキちゃん、どうしたの？
Kiki-chan, doushita no?
What’s wrong with Kiki-chan?
私がキキはホグワーツに行けないって言ったから。
Watashi ga kiki wa Hoguwaatsu ni ikenaitte itta kara.
I told Kiki that she can’t go to Hogwarts.
そりゃ、機嫌が悪いわけだ。
Sorya, kigen ga warui wake da.
Ah, it makes sense/ That explains why she is in a bad mood.
そりゃ (sorya) = casual way of saying それは(sore wa)
That wraps up today’s lesson. There are other ways to use わけだ, but we’ll cover them another time. Thanks for reading until the end, and remember to keep practicing!
