Learn more about this word
オチ
Ochi is literally the "fall" at the end. Asking ochi wa, meaning "so what is the punchline", is a gentle way of saying a story went nowhere. Saying a story has no ochi is a real criticism in Japan, where even casual anecdotes are expected to land.
Examples in context
その話、少しオチが弱いね。
That story has a rather weak punchline.
オチを先に言うと台無しになる。
Giving the punchline away first ruins it.
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