腑(ふ)に落(お)ちない

ふにおちない
expression
to not make sense; to not sit right; to not be convincing
emotionabstract
1. to not make sense; to not sit right; to not be convincing; to not feel right
Describes a feeling of not being fully convinced or satisfied with an explanation, decision, or situation. Something about it feels off or unreasonable, even if one cannot pinpoint exactly why.
彼(かれ)の説明(せつめい)は腑(ふ)に落(お)ちない。
His explanation doesn't make sense to me.
腑(ふ)に落(お)ちない点(てん)がいくつかある。
There are several points that don't sit right with me.
理由(りゆう)は分(わ)かったが、どうも腑(ふ)に落(お)ちない部分(ぶぶん)が残(のこ)る。
I understand the reason, but somehow there's a part that just doesn't feel right.

腑(ふ) refers to the internal organs (especially the gut), reflecting the Japanese cultural idea that understanding and intuition are felt in the belly. When something 腑(ふ)に落(お)ちない, it literally "doesn't fall into the gut" — the explanation hasn't been digested or internalized.

The affirmative form 腑(ふ)に落(お)ちる (to make sense, to click) is also used but less common than the negative.

Common patterns

Similar words

  • 納得(なっとく)がいかない: to not be satisfied; to not accept — more about refusing to accept than gut feeling
  • ぴんとこない: to not click; to not resonate — more casual; implies lack of intuitive understanding
  • 合点(がてん)がいかない: to not be convinced — similar but more literary

Related Words

Related: 首(くび)を傾(かし)げる (to wonder)
Compare: 納得(なっとく)がいかない (to not be satisfied)
Compare: ピンとこない (to not click)
Compare: もやもや (hazy feeling)
general
Added 2026.4.28 0:16 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
25500/25853_funiochinai