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.
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.
I feigned calmness.
To make something look like something else; to feign or fake an appearance. Often used for disguising objects or situations.
He feigned illness.
To pretend not to know something.
To play dumb, feign ignorance. Very common in casual speech.
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.
To pretend to be dead, as an animal might do.
To pretend to be sick, often to avoid work or duty.
To pretend to be asleep.
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.
He pretended to be angry (casual).
He feigned anger (formal).
He made it look like he was angry.
He feigned ignorance and said he knew nothing.
She feigned not knowing me.
This insect feigns death.
She feigned illness and took a day off work.
He feigned sleep.