落ち
Meanings
1
Refers to a mistake where something is accidentally left out or missed, such as a name on a list or a step in a process.
There was an omission of his name on the roster.
2
Used for the final result or conclusion of a process, often with a nuance of 'how things turned out'.
The upshot of the long discussion was, after all, a budget cut.
3
punch line
usually written using kana alone
The final, often humorous, point of a joke or story. Frequently written in kana (おち or オチ).
The punch line of his stories is always funny.
Usage patterns
- 〈事〉のが落ちだthe (usually unfortunate, predictable) outcome will be that ~
No matter how hard you try, it'll probably just end up being pointless.
- 落ちをつけるto give a story or joke a punch line
He's good at adding a punch line at the end of a story.
- 〈事〉に落ちがあるthere is an oversight or omission in something
There's an omission in this report, so please check it again.
- 落ちがないto lack a punch line or point (of a joke or story)
The joke had no punch line, so everyone was confused.
Expressions· 9
- カゴ落ちcart abandonment; leaving items in an online cart without purchasing
- 腑に落ちないcannot understand; doesn't make sense; unconvincing
- 人後に落ちないsecond to none; unrivaled
- 木から落ちた猿a person who has lost their support; a monkey fallen from a tree
- ほっぺたが落ちるso delicious one's cheeks fall off
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- 理に勝って非に落ちるto lose an argument despite being in the right; to have right on one's side but still lose
- 落ち武者は薄の穂に怖ずa fleeing soldier is startled by the slightest thing
- 一葉落ちて天下の秋を知るa single leaf falls and you know autumn has come; a small sign reveals a larger trend