Translation guide
How to express the idea of pretending not to know something in Japanese, including common phrases, verbs, and contextual strategies.
To act as if you don't know something, often to avoid responsibility, embarrassment, or to observe a situation.
The most common and versatile way to say 'pretend not to know'. Literally 'do a pretense of not knowing'.
彼は私のことを知らないふりをした。
He pretended not to know me.
To act as if you haven't seen or noticed something, often to avoid interaction or awkwardness.
Literally 'pretend to see and not see'. Used when you deliberately ignore something you have witnessed.
彼は私の失敗を見て見ぬふりをした。
He pretended not to notice my mistake.
To act ignorant or naive during a conversation, often to avoid answering or to tease.
とぼける is a general, casual way to say 'play dumb'. しらばっくれる is more emphatic and often accusatory. 白を切る specifically implies denying knowledge of a misdeed or feigning innocence when suspected.
彼はとぼけたが、すぐにばれた。
He played dumb, but was soon found out.
しらばっくれるな！証拠があるんだ。
Don't play dumb! We have evidence.
彼は盗んだことを白を切った。
He denied stealing, feigning ignorance.
I pretended not to know and got through the situation.
A verb meaning to play dumb or feign ignorance, often in a slightly mischievous or evasive way. Common in casual conversation.
とぼけないで、本当のことを言ってよ。
Don't play dumb, tell me the truth.
彼は何も知らないととぼけた。
He played dumb, saying he knew nothing.
A more emphatic or colloquial version of とぼける, implying blatant feigning of ignorance. Can sound a bit rough or accusatory.
しらばっくれるな！お前がやったんだろ。
Don't play dumb! You did it, didn't you?
Literally 'make a don't-know face'. Often used when someone ignores you or pretends not to notice something.
道で会ったのに、知らん顔をされた。
Even though we met on the street, he pretended not to know me.
A set phrase meaning 'I know nothing about it', often used to feign complete ignorance in a formal or dramatic way. Can be used humorously.
彼は知らぬ存ぜぬで通そうとした。
He tried to get away with pretending to know nothing.
To pretend not to notice or realize something. More general than visual ignoring.
彼女は私に気づかないふりをした。
She pretended not to notice me.
An innocent or nonchalant face pretending not to know. Often used in the phrase そ知らぬ顔で (with an innocent look).
彼はそ知らぬ顔で通り過ぎた。
He passed by with an innocent look, pretending not to know.
To feign innocence or pretend not to know, often when accused of something. Common in detective stories.
彼は最後まで白を切った。
He feigned innocence to the very end.
A more emphatic or drawn-out version of とぼける, often used when someone is obviously playing dumb in a silly way.
すっとぼけないで、知ってるくせに。
Don't play dumb, I know you know.
Avoid directly translating 'pretending not to know' as 知らないことを装う (しらないことをよそおう). While grammatically possible, it sounds unnatural. Use the phrases listed above instead.
Avoid directly translating 'pretending not to know' as 知らないことを装う (しらないことをよそおう). While grammatically possible, it sounds unnatural. Use the phrases listed above instead.