Use わけだ when a fact makes another situation understandable.
The idea
Attach わけだ to a plain verb or い-adjective, and なわけだ to a な-adjective or noun. The conclusion follows naturally from the reason.
Examples
- 彼は十年も日本に住んでいた。日本語が上手なわけだ。He lived in Japan for ten years. No wonder his Japanese is good.
- 昨夜は雪が降った。今朝は寒いわけだ。It snowed last night. That explains why it is cold this morning.
- 今日は祝日だ。銀行が休みなわけだ。Today is a public holiday. That explains why the bank is closed.
- 彼女は毎日練習している。ピアノが上手なわけだ。She practices every day. No wonder she plays the piano well.
- 電車が止まっていた。それで彼は遅れたわけだ。The trains had stopped. So that is why he was late.
- 二人は姉妹だ。よく似ているわけだ。The two are sisters. No wonder they look so alike.
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Watch out
わけだ expresses an understood conclusion; はずだ expresses an expectation based on reasoning.
Try it yourself
毎日練習している。ピアノが上手＿わけだ。（な／の）
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な
上手 is a な-adjective, so use な before わけだ.
昨夜雪が降った。今朝は寒い＿だ。（わけ／はず）
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わけ
The snowfall explains the cold, so use わけ.
二人は姉妹だ。よく似ている＿だ。（わけ／ため）
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わけ
Their being sisters explains the resemblance, so use わけ.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
毎日練習している。ピアノが上手＿わけだ。（な／の）
昨夜雪が降った。今朝は寒い＿だ。（わけ／はず）
二人は姉妹だ。よく似ている＿だ。（わけ／ため）
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Write two sentences using わけだ and explain the reason for each.