Translation guide
To pretend to have a feeling, state, or condition, often to deceive. In Japanese, the most common way is using 〜ふりをする or the noun ふり. There are also specific verbs for feigning ignorance, sleep, death, etc.
To act as if you are experiencing something (asleep, dead, happy, etc.) when you are not.
The most general and common way to say 'feign' or 'pretend'. Attach to a verb in plain form or a noun + の.
彼は寝たふりをした。
He feigned sleep.
She feigned surprise.
To feign or put on an appearance, often used for emotions or attitudes. More formal/literary than ふりをする.
平静を装った。
I feigned calmness.
To make something look like something else; to feign or fake an appearance. Often used for disguising objects or situations.
彼は病気を見せかけた。
He feigned illness.
To pretend not to know something.
To play dumb, feign ignorance. Very common in casual speech.
とぼけないでよ。
Don't feign ignorance.
To feign ignorance, often with a nuance of acting innocent when guilty. Slightly stronger than とぼける.
Literally 'to pretend not to know'. A straightforward phrase.
彼女は私のことを知らないふりをした。
She feigned not knowing me.
To pretend to be dead, as an animal might do.
The standard way to say 'play dead' or 'feign death'.
クモは死んだふりをした。
The spider feigned death.
Biological term for thanatosis (playing dead). Technical.
この昆虫は擬死をする。
This insect feigns death.
To pretend to be sick, often to avoid work or duty.
To feign illness, malinger. A set phrase.
彼は仮病を使って学校を休んだ。
He feigned illness and skipped school.
General phrase for pretending to be sick.
彼女は病気のふりをして仕事を休んだ。
She feigned illness and took a day off work.
To pretend to be asleep.
The most common way to say 'pretend to be asleep'.
子供は寝たふりをしていた。
The child was feigning sleep.
Literally 'tanuki sleep', meaning feigned sleep. Somewhat idiomatic.
彼は狸寝入りを決め込んだ。
He feigned sleep.
ふりをする is the most versatile and neutral. 装う is more formal and often used for emotions or attitudes. 見せかける implies creating a false appearance, often for objects or situations.
彼は怒ったふりをした。
He pretended to be angry (casual).
彼は怒りを装った。
He feigned anger (formal).
彼は怒っているように見せかけた。
He made it look like he was angry.
彼はしらばくれて何も知らないと言った。
He feigned ignorance and said he knew nothing.