Translation guide
To pretend to be someone or something else, often with deceptive intent. Japanese uses various verbs and constructions depending on whether you're impersonating a person, feigning a role, or disguising yourself.
To pretend to be another person, often for fraud or deception.
The most direct equivalent for impersonating someone, especially online or for fraud. Often used in the phrase 〜になりすます.
He posed as a police officer and entered the house.
A general phrase meaning 'to pretend to be X'. Less specific to impersonation, but widely used.
He posed as a doctor and examined patients.
To falsify one's identity or status. More formal and often used in written contexts.
He entered the country under a false identity.
To pretend to have a certain job, title, or expertise.
To change appearance to look like another person or thing.
To assume a false identity or role for a specific goal, like undercover work.
なりすます focuses on identity theft or online impersonation. 装う is about feigning a role or status, often with some physical disguise. 変装する is purely about changing appearance. Choose based on the method of deception.
Pose as a friend on social media.
Pose as a police officer (by acting like one).
Disguise oneself as an old person.
The English 'pose as' cannot be directly translated word-for-word. Do not use ポーズする, which means to strike a pose. Use the verbs and phrases above.
キツネが人間に化ける話がある。
There are stories of foxes posing as humans.
He posed as a journalist and infiltrated enemy territory.