Translation guide
The act of pretending to be asleep, dead, or unaware in order to deceive someone or avoid a situation. In Japanese, this concept is expressed through specific verbs and idiomatic phrases depending on the nuance.
The child played possum and didn't do his homework.
Literally 'tanuki sleep', an idiomatic expression for feigning sleep. Slightly more colorful and colloquial.
He pretended to be sound asleep.
To feign death or unconsciousness, often as a survival tactic or to escape a situation.
To act as if one does not know or notice something, often to avoid blame or involvement.
Means 'pretend not to know'. Very common in casual speech. Can also be written as 知らん顔をする.
He pretended not to notice my mistake.
A verb meaning 'to play dumb' or 'to feign ignorance'. Often used when someone is being deliberately evasive.
An idiomatic phrase meaning 'to feign innocence' or 'to play innocent'. Often used when someone is clearly guilty but denies it.
To stay inactive or silent in order to avoid attention or conflict.
Means 'to stay still/quiet'. Used when someone avoids drawing attention to themselves.
He laid low until his boss's mood improved.
Literally 'hold one's breath', meaning to lie low or keep very quiet to avoid detection.
Both mean 'pretending to be asleep', but 狸寝入り is more idiomatic and carries a nuance of craftiness, like a tanuki (raccoon dog) playing dead. 寝たふり is more straightforward and commonly used in daily conversation.
The English idiom 'playing possum' does not have a direct one-to-one equivalent in Japanese. Translating it literally as ポッサムをする would be nonsensical. Use the appropriate phrase based on the specific type of pretense.
He pretended to faint and got through the situation.
彼はとぼけて、何も知らないと言った。
He played dumb and said he didn't know anything.
彼は白を切って、自分はやっていないと言い張った。
He played innocent and insisted he didn't do it.
They were lying low to avoid the police.