オチ

おち

noun

punchline; ending; conclusion

informalcommunication

1. punchline; punch line

The funny or surprising ending of a joke or story. The climax that makes the audience laugh.

オチがおもしろい。

The punchline is funny.

話(はなし)のオチがわからなかった。

I didn't get the punchline of the story.

オチを先(さき)に言(い)わないで！

Don't give away the punchline!

2. ending; conclusion; resolution

The conclusion or resolution of a story, situation, or event. How something turns out in the end.

結局(けっきょく)オチはどうなった？

So how did it turn out in the end?

この映画(えいが)はオチが予想外(よそうがい)だった。

This movie had an unexpected ending.

オチのない話(はなし)は退屈(たいくつ)だ。

A story without a proper ending is boring.

オチ is written in katakana but comes from the Japanese verb 落(お)ちる (to fall).

Common expressions

オチがつく: to reach a conclusion
オチがない: to have no punchline/point
オチを言(い)う: to deliver the punchline
オチを聞(き)く: to hear the ending

Related words

ボケとツッコミ: the two roles in a comedy duo (the funny man and the straight man)
下(さ)げ: the term for the punchline of a 落語(らくご) story

Usage

In comedy, especially 漫才(まんざい) (double-act comedy) and 落語(らくご) (traditional storytelling), the オチ is crucial. In everyday conversation, it's used when asking "how did it turn out?" or commenting that a story lacked a satisfying conclusion.

Related Words

Related: オチがつく (to come to a punchline)

general

Added 2026.1.29 15:11 · Revised 2026.9.29 18:11

08500/08939_ochi