猫ねこかぶり

noun

feigned innocence; wolf in sheep's clothing

Describes a person who hides their true nature behind a gentle, innocent, or modest facade. Often used for someone who acts sweet but is actually cunning or calculating.

• 彼かの女じょは猫ねこかぶりだから、本ほん当とうは怒おこっているのに笑わらっている。

  She's a wolf in sheep's clothing, so she's smiling even though she's actually angry.

• あの新しん人じん、猫ねこかぶりしてるけど、裏うらでは何なにを考かんがえてるかわからない。

  That new guy is putting on an innocent act, but you never know what he's really thinking.

noun

feigned ignorance; playing dumb

Specifically pretending not to know something, often to avoid responsibility or to manipulate a situation. Overlaps with the general 'feigned innocence' sense but emphasizes ignorance.

• 彼かれは猫ねこかぶりで、知しってるくせに「知しらない」と言いった。

  He played dumb and said he didn't know, even though he did.