半はん兵べ衛え

noun

feigned ignorance; pretending not to know

Abbreviation of the set phrase 知らぬ顔の半兵衛, used to describe someone who acts as if they know nothing about a matter.

See also: 知らぬ顔の半兵衛

• 「知しらぬ顔かおの半はん兵べ衛え」という言いい回まわしがある。

  There is a phrase 'shiranu kao no Hanbee' (feigning ignorance like Hanbee).

• 彼かれは都つ合ごうが悪わるくなると、すぐ半はん兵べ衛えを決きめ込こむ。

  When things get awkward, he quickly pretends not to know anything.