佯よう狂きょう

noun

feigned madness; pretended insanity

Literary or historical term for pretending to be insane, often to avoid responsibility or danger. Rare in modern everyday language; more common expressions include 狂気を装う or 気違いのふりをする.

• 古こ典てん文ぶん学がくでは、登とう場じょう人じん物ぶつが佯よう狂きょうを用もちいて難なんを逃のがれる場ば面めんがある。

  In classical literature, there are scenes where characters escape trouble by feigning madness.