ピンとこない

ぴんとこない
expression
doesn't click, doesn't resonate, not getting it
informalcognition
1. doesn't click, doesn't resonate, not getting it
Used when something doesn't immediately make sense, feel right, or strike a chord with the speaker.
説明(せつめい)を聞(き)いてもピンとこない。
I don't get it even after hearing the explanation.
この例(たと)えはピンとこないな。
This example doesn't really click for me.
彼(かれ)の言(い)いたいことがピンとこなかった。
I couldn't grasp what he was trying to say.
実感(じっかん)がわかなくてピンとこないんだよね。
It doesn't feel real to me, so it doesn't resonate.

Usage

ピン suggests something snapping into place, so ピンとこない is said when an explanation, an idea or a suggestion fails to click or to feel real. The positive ピンとくる means something makes sense at once, and also to realize something intuitively: 犯人(はんにん)が誰(だれ)かピンときた (it struck me who the culprit was).

Similar words

  • 腑(ふ)に落(お)ちない: not convinced, something does not add up; ピンとこない is about not grasping or relating, 腑(ふ)に落(お)ちない about doubting.

Related Words

Compare: 腑(ふ)に落(お)ちない (to not make sense)
general
Added 2026.2.1 17:18 · Revised 2026.10.5 16:05
09000/09367_pintokonai