Translation guide
The English word "bluff" covers several related ideas: pretending confidence or strength to deceive, making empty threats, and a steep cliff. This guide focuses on the most common uses for learners: deception in games or negotiation, and empty threats.
Pretending to have a stronger position, better cards, or more confidence than you actually do, in order to deceive someone.
The most common and natural way to say "to bluff" in the sense of deception. It's a set phrase meaning to put on a bold front or make a show of strength.
He bluffed and pretended to have a good hand.
Bluffing in negotiations is risky.
A loanword from English, commonly used in poker and game contexts. It's well understood among younger people and gamers.
Using a bluff in poker is basic.
Literally "to put on a show of strength." It's a more formal or literary expression, often used in written descriptions.
He put on a brave front and acted calm.
The noun form meaning "bluff" or "empty show." Often used with をかける or だ.
That's just a bluff.
Threatening to do something that you don't actually intend to do, or cannot do.
Refers to threatening words or a bluff threat. Often used when someone is making empty threats.
His saying he'll quit is just an empty threat.
Can also be used for empty threats, though it's more common for deception in games.
Literally "just mouth," meaning all talk and no action. Used for empty threats or boasts.
What he says is just empty talk.
A steep cliff, headland, or riverbank. This is a less common meaning for learners, but useful for reading.
はったり is the native Japanese term and is used in everyday conversation for any kind of bluffing. ブラフ is a loanword specifically associated with poker and games. Use はったり for general situations.
Avoid directly translating "bluff" as がけ (cliff) unless you mean the geographical feature. For deception, use はったり or ブラフ.
He bluffed about calling the police.
Be careful not to fall off the cliff.