なりすます

な

り

す

ま

す

Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

1

godan verb (-su), intransitive verb

impersonate; pose as; disguise oneself as

usually written using kana alone

Used when someone deliberately pretends to be another person or a specific role, often with intent to deceive. Can imply successful deception.

彼かれは警けい察さつ官かんになりすまして、家いえに入はいった。
He posed as a police officer and entered the house.

ネット上じょうで有ゆう名めい人じんになりすます人ひとがいる。

There are people who impersonate celebrities online.

2

godan verb (-su), intransitive verb

completely become; fully turn into

usually written using kana alone

Describes a thorough transformation into a character or state, often in acting or metaphorical contexts. Less common than sense 1.

彼かれは役やくになりすまして、素すの自じ分ぶんを忘わすれた。
He completely became the role and forgot his true self.

Written forms

成なりすますUsage7%
Common mixed kanji-kana spelling. The verb is usually written in kana, but this form is widely used.
なりすますUsage89%
Kana spelling is the most common in practice.
成なり済すますUsage4%
Full kanji spelling; less common but still encountered.

Kanji

成turn into, become, get
済settle (debt, etc.), relieve (burden), finish

Similar words

偽いつわる
偽る means to falsify or lie about something (e.g., one's name, age), while なりすます focuses on assuming a false identity or persona.
変へん装そうする
変装する is to disguise one's appearance physically, whereas なりすます includes behavioral impersonation and may not involve physical disguise.

Etymology

Compound of 成り (continuative form of 成る 'to become') + すます (archaic form of 済ます 'to finish; to pass oneself off as'). The combination yields the meaning 'to become completely' or 'to pass oneself off as'.