とぼける

と

ぼ

け

る

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

ichidan verb, intransitive verb

play dumb; feign ignorance; act innocent

usually written using kana alone

Pretending not to know something, often to avoid responsibility or awkwardness. Can also describe a blank, clueless expression.

彼かれは知しっているくせに、とぼけた顔かおをしている。
He knows, but he's putting on an innocent face.

とぼけないで、ちゃんと説せつ明めいしてよ。

Don't play dumb; explain it properly.

2

ichidan verb, intransitive verb

play the fool; act silly

usually written using kana alone

Acting in a silly or foolish way, often deliberately for humor or to lighten the mood. Overlaps with sense 1 but emphasizes clowning rather than hiding knowledge.

会かい議ぎでとぼけたことを言いって、みんなを笑わらわせた。
He said something silly at the meeting and made everyone laugh.

3

ichidan verb, intransitive verb

be senile; be in one's dotage

usually written using kana aloneobsolete term

Obsolete usage; historically meant to become senile or demented. Now expressed with ぼける or 呆ける.

古こ文ぶんでは「とぼける」が老ろう衰すいを意い味みすることがある。
In classical texts, とぼける can mean to become senile.

Written forms

とぼけるUsage98%
Usually written in kana; the kanji 惚ける is also used but less common.
恍とぼけるUsage2%
Rare kanji form; 恍 suggests being dazed or entranced.
惚とぼける
Kanji form; 惚 is also used in 呆ける (ぼける) and carries a nuance of being absent-minded or senile.

Kanji

惚fall in love with, admire, grow senile
恍unclear, senile, stupid

Similar words

ぼける
ぼける means 'to become senile' or 'to be mentally slow'; とぼける is about feigning ignorance or acting silly, not actual mental decline.
しらばくれる
しらばくれる is a stronger, more colloquial version of 'playing dumb', often with a nuance of shamelessly denying knowledge.

Etymology

Derived from とぼける, originally meaning 'to become senile' or 'to be dazed'. The modern sense of 'playing dumb' developed from the idea of acting as if one's mind is not working. The kanji 惚 is associated with being infatuated or absent-minded.