演えんずる

zuru verb, transitive verb

act a part; play a role

Used for acting in a play, film, or drama; also for playing a social role. Often interchangeable with 演じる, but 演ずる can sound more formal.

See also: 演じる

• 彼かれは舞ぶ台たいでハムレットを演えんずる。

  He plays Hamlet on stage.

• 会かい議ぎではいつも冷れい静せいな役やくを演えんずる。

  He always plays the role of the calm one in meetings.

zuru verb, transitive verb

perform; put on a production

Refers to staging a play, concert, or show. Focuses on the act of presenting a performance.

• この劇げき団だんは毎まい年としシェイクスピアを演えんずる。

  This theater company performs Shakespeare every year.

zuru verb, transitive verb

commit a blunder; pretend; disgrace oneself

Used in set phrases like 失態を演ずる (commit a blunder) or 醜態を演ずる (disgrace oneself). The 'pretend' sense is less common and often appears with nouns like 父親役 (role of a father).

• 彼かれは会かい議ぎで失しっ態たいを演えんじてしまった。

  He committed a blunder at the meeting.

• 酔よって醜しゅう態たいを演えんずるのは避さけたい。

  I want to avoid disgracing myself by getting drunk.