とぼけ

と

ぼ

け

Meanings

usually written using kana alone

Refers to the act of pretending not to know something, often in a playful or evasive manner. Commonly used in the phrase とぼけを決め込む (to brazenly play dumb).

彼かれは知しっているくせに、とぼけを決きめ込こんだ。
Even though he knew, he brazenly played dumb.
そんなとぼけは通つう用ようしないよ。
That kind of feigned ignorance won't work.

See all 4 example sentences ›

Kanji

惚fall in love with, admire, grow senile
恍unclear, senile, stupid

Related words

とぼける
The verb form meaning 'to play dumb' or 'to feign ignorance'. とぼけ is the noun derived from it.
しらばくれる
A more colloquial and slightly stronger verb meaning 'to feign ignorance' or 'to act innocent', often with a nuance of shamelessness.

Word family

とぼけるN1
play dumb; feign ignorance; act innocent · play the fool; act silly · be senile; be in one's dotage
おとぼけ
feigned ignorance; playing dumb

Written forms

とぼけUsage100%
Usually written in kana; the kanji forms 惚け and 恍け are rare.
惚とぼけ
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; learners should prefer the kana spelling.
恍とぼけ
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; learners should prefer the kana spelling.

Etymology

Derived from the verb とぼける (to play dumb). The kanji 惚 is associated with being absent-minded or infatuated, but the exact historical derivation is uncertain.