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“no way that…” · How people really talk
はずがありません→わけがない→わけない

わけ means “reason” or “case”. そんなわけない = “no way”, そういうわけじゃない = “that’s not what I mean”, and a rising 〜わけ? asks “so you’re saying…?”.

Use it withFriends OKCoworkers carefulBoss / teacher avoid

わけないだろ is a common comeback; rough with だろ. Casual.

572 lines with 〜わけない from 153 comedians in the library · Counts updated 2026-10-07
Audience laughter in this scene0:12
Tachette · The Bomb

In a panic, one performer tells the other to just stay there and smoke one last cigarette.

The words appear when the audience laughs.

No way I can smoke in this situation!

Textbookこの状況で吸えるはずがありません!「わけない」 is 「わけがない」 minus 「が」: 'no way.' Rough 「だろ」 (from 「だろう」) replaces polite 「でしょう」.

Speed: fast
All lines
Audience laughter in this scene0:19
CITY OF SLEEZE · You're the Culprit

A detective explains why one suspect in a murder case cannot be the killer.

The words appear when the audience laughs.

a murder? There's no way. However…

Textbook引っ込み思案の人が殺害を実行に移せるはずがありません。しかし……'移せるわけがない' ('no way they could carry it out') is the plain, casual version of '移せるはずがありません'.

Speed: slow
All lines
Audience laughter in this scene0:18
Senritsu no Peekaboo · The Haunted-House Realtor

A realtor who only handles homes where someone died shows a customer a property where strange noises are heard, then asks if they like it.

Culture note A "jiko bukken" is a home where someone died, often seen as haunted, and Chibi Maruko-chan is a classic Japanese family cartoon.

The words appear when the audience laughs.

No, there's no way I'd like it!

Textbookいいえ、気に入るはずがありません。"気に入るわけない" is "わけがない" ("no way") with "が" dropped; the rough "だろうが" adds angry emphasis.

Tone: RoughSpeed: normal
All lines
Audience laughter in this scene0:18
Daizu Denkyu · The Trial

In a courtroom sketch, one side claims Mariama-san's old high-school gag matters and asks for it to be performed right there.

Culture note An 'ippatsu gag' is a short one-shot gag or catchphrase, a staple of Japanese comedy.

The words appear when the audience laughs.

No way I'm doing that!

Textbookやるはずがないでしょう。'はずがない' becomes 'わけない' ('no way'); 'が' drops and polite 'でしょう' turns into blunt 'だろ'.

Speed: normal
All lines
Audience laughter in this scene0:17
Chinatei · Divorce

One performer insists they're not just a customer of a host, since the host always calls them 'princess.'

Culture note At host clubs, male hosts entertain paying female customers and flatter them, for example by calling them 'princess.'

The words appear when the audience laughs.

No way, that can't be true!

Textbookそんなはずはありません。「わけない」 is 「わけがない」 minus 「が」: 'no way.' The added 「じゃない」 is a rhetorical 'come on!' tag.

Speed: slow
All lines
Audience laughter in this scene0:16
Uchimatsuge · Termites

Two people argue about how fast termites can eat, and one says the other is underestimating termites.

The words appear when the audience laughs.

It's not that I'm underestimating them, but...

Textbook見くびっているわけではありませんが。"舐めてるわけじゃない" = "it's not that I'm looking down on them"; "わけじゃない" denies the other person's assumption.

Speed: fast
All lines

More lines with 〜わけない

From other routines in the library. Automatic transcripts, not yet checked line by line.

Quick answers

What does 〜わけない mean?

〜わけない means “no way that…”. わけ means “reason” or “case”. そんなわけない = “no way”, そういうわけじゃない = “that’s not what I mean”, and a rising 〜わけ? asks “so you’re saying…?”.

Is 〜わけない rude? Who can you say it to?

With friends: OK. With coworkers: careful. With a boss or teacher: avoid. わけないだろ is a common comeback; rough with だろ. Casual.

How common is 〜わけない in real speech?

In 1,905 live comedy routines, 〜わけない appears in 572 lines from 153 comedians.

How people really talk