feigned ignorance; playing dumb
Refers to the act of pretending not to know something, often in a playful or sly manner. Related to とぼける (to play dumb).
See also: とぼけ
He always plays dumb, but actually he knows everything.
He feigned ignorance at that question.
Applies to each form listed below
Rare kanji form using 惚 (infatuation, absent-mindedness).
Rare kanji form using 恍 (unclear, dreamy).
Derived from the verb とぼける (to play dumb) with the honorific prefix お. The kanji 惚 and 恍 are associated with absent-mindedness or vagueness, but the word is now almost exclusively written in kana.