Translation guide
The English word 'sham' refers to something false, fake, or pretended. This guide covers how to express these ideas naturally in Japanese, from describing counterfeit objects to calling out insincere behavior.
Describing something that is not genuine, such as a product, document, or artwork.
The most common word for a fake or counterfeit item. Can be used for goods, art, documents, etc.
このバッグは偽物だ。
This bag is a fake.
偽物のブランド品に注意してください。
Be careful of counterfeit brand-name goods.
A prefix meaning 'fake' or 'false'. Often used in compounds like 偽ブランド (fake brand) or 偽造 (forgery).
それは偽の身分証明書です。
That's a fake ID.
Refers to something fraudulent or rigged, like a scam or a fixed game. Often used for schemes rather than physical objects.
いかさまのカードゲームだった。
It was a rigged card game.
Describing an action or feeling that is not sincere, such as pretending to be happy or feigning ignorance.
A noun meaning 'pretense' or 'façade'. Often used with の to modify nouns, or as 見せかける (to pretend).
彼の親切は見せかけだった。
His kindness was a sham.
見せかけの笑顔を作った。
I put on a fake smile.
A verb phrase meaning 'to pretend'. Attach to a noun or verb plain form. Very common and natural.
彼は寝たふりをした。
He pretended to be asleep.
知らないふりをしないで。
Don't pretend you don't know.
Means 'hypocrisy'. Used when someone pretends to have higher moral standards than they actually do.
A formal word for 'falsehood' or 'fabrication', often used in legal or official contexts.
虚偽の申告は犯罪です。
Making a false declaration is a crime.
Referring to a scheme or trick designed to deceive, such as a scam or a rigged competition.
The standard word for 'fraud' or 'scam'. Covers financial scams, confidence tricks, etc.
それは詐欺だった。
It was a sham (a scam).
詐欺に引っかからないで。
Don't fall for the scam.
A colloquial term for a swindle or con. Slightly old-fashioned but still understood.
あの話はペテンだよ。
That story is a sham (a con).
Literally a 'farce', used metaphorically for a sham or mockery, like a rigged trial or a fake ceremony.
Using 'sham' directly before a noun, like 'sham marriage' or 'sham election'.
偽物 (にせもの) is for tangible fakes (objects). 見せかけ (みせかけ) is for intangible pretense (actions, attitudes). Use 偽物 for a counterfeit watch, and 見せかけ for a fake smile.
この時計は偽物だ。
This watch is a fake.
彼の笑顔は見せかけだ。
His smile is a sham.
There is no single Japanese word that covers all uses of 'sham'. Always choose based on whether you mean a fake object, a pretense, or a fraud. Using 偽物 for a fake smile would be unnatural.
His behavior is a sham (hypocritical).
The trial was a sham.