Translation guide
How to express pretending to be someone or something in Japanese, from casual role-play to formal impersonation.
To act as if you are a different person, character, or thing, often in play or deception.
The most common and versatile pattern. Attach to a noun or noun phrase to mean 'pretend to be X'. Works for people, roles, animals, objects, etc.
He pretended to be a doctor.
The children are playing, pretending to be animals.
Literally 'do an imitation of'. Often used for mimicking someone's voice, mannerisms, or behavior, especially for fun or mockery.
He is good at pretending to be the teacher (imitating the teacher).
To impersonate someone, often with deceptive intent, such as identity theft or online impersonation. More formal and serious than ふり.
The criminal pretended to be a police officer (impersonated).
To feign a physical or emotional state, like being asleep, dead, happy, etc.
Use the past tense of a verb/adjective + ふりをする to pretend to be in a resulting state. For example, 'pretend to be asleep' uses the past tense of 'sleep'.
He pretended to be asleep.
Some animals pretend to be dead.
Use the te-iru form to pretend to be in the middle of an action or ongoing state. Less common for simple states, but natural for continuous actions.
He pretended to be studying.
To act like a different kind of person, such as pretending to be tough, innocent, or knowledgeable.
Suffix attached to nouns or adjectives to mean 'act like / pretend to be'. Often carries a negative nuance of affectation or showing off.
He always pretends to be knowledgeable.
That person pretends to be refined, but actually isn't.
Noun suffix meaning 'affecting the air of...' or 'pretending to be...'. Often used in compounds like 芸術家気取り (pretending to be an artist).
She pretends to be a celebrity.
To assume a role in a performance, game, or social situation.
ふりをする is the most general 'pretend to be'. まねをする focuses on imitation of behavior or voice, often for fun. なりすます implies deceptive impersonation, like fraud.
A child pretends to be a dog.
He imitated the teacher and made the class laugh.
There are people who impersonate celebrities online.
To say 'pretend to do something' (an action), use verb + ふりをする. But for 'pretend to be [noun]', use noun + のふりをする. Don't confuse with 'pretend to be [adjective]', which often uses past tense or ぶる.
He pretended to be asleep. (state)
He pretended to go to sleep. (action)