たことにするTreat an event as if it happened
Deliberately treats an event as having happened—or not happened—even though the actual facts are different. It can establish a harmless fiction, count one action as a substitute for another, or conceal an inconvenient fact.
The facts and the chosen account
The past form before ことにする names the event that will be counted or represented as having happened. The context must separately show that reality was different; the construction does not make the chosen account literally true.
A harmless shared fiction
実際には旅行に行けなかったが、家で各地の料理を作って、世界一周したことにした。
We could not actually travel, but we cooked dishes from different regions at home and treated it as though we had traveled around the world.
AnalyzeThe first clause states the reality; the second establishes the playful alternative account.
Counting one action as another
The two events do not always have to be direct opposites. One action can be given the practical status of another—for example, recorded study may count as attendance, or a simple drink may count as breakfast.
An agreed working account
実際には昨日の会議に出なかったが、議事録を読んだので、出席したことにして作業を進める。
I did not actually attend yesterday's meeting, but since I read the minutes, we will proceed with the work as though I had attended.
AnalyzeAttendance is not claimed as a fact; it is being assigned as the practical status used from this point onward.
Ethically sensitive concealment
実際には報告を受けていたが、責任を逃れるため、報告を受けなかったことにした。
The person had in fact received the report, but treated it as though it had never been received in order to avoid responsibility.
AnalyzeThe grammar is neutral, but here the chosen account deliberately conceals a fact.
Treatment, mindset, and outward pretense
たことにする changes how an event is counted or represented. たつもりで instead adopts an as-if mindset as a basis for action, while ふりをする describes outward pretense. In formal rules and analytical writing, ものとする is commonly used to deem or assume something to be the case.
More examples
実際には朝食を作れなかったが、牛乳と果物の飲み物を飲んで、朝食を取ったことにした。
I could not actually make breakfast, but I had a milk-and-fruit drink and counted that as having eaten breakfast.
Analyze答えを先に聞いてしまったが、聞かなかったことにして、自分で問題を解いてみる。
I heard the answer beforehand, but I will disregard that and try solving the problem myself.
Analyze実際には研修に出られなかったが、録画を全部見れば、参加したことにしてもらえる。
I could not actually attend the training, but if I watch the entire recording, they will count me as having participated.
Analyzeこの数字は見てしまったが、審査の公平を保つため、見なかったことにしてください。
You have seen this figure, but to keep the review fair, please disregard it as though you had not seen it.
Analyze申請書は締め切りの翌日に届いたが、担当者は期限内に届いたことにして受理した。
The application arrived the day after the deadline, but the staff member accepted it as though it had arrived on time.
Analyze最後の一問は解けなかったが、おまけで正解したことにしよう。
We could not solve the last question, but let's count it as correct as a bonus.
Analyze