ふりをする means to pretend; to act as if ~; to feign ~. It is a JLPT N3 grammar pattern used to describe someone pretending to be in a state they are not, or disguising their true feelings.
This grammar point often appears in neutral Japanese. If you want to describe intentional deception or performance, ふりをする is a useful pattern to learn.
What does ふりをする mean?
Use ふりをする when you want to describe someone pretending to be in a state they are not, or disguising their true feelings.
Natural translations include:
- to pretend; to act as if ~
- to pretend; to act as if ~; to feign ~
- to pretend; to act as if
How to form ふりをする
Noun / Verb stem + ふりをする
Examples of the pattern:
- 知らないふりをする
- 寝たふりをする
- 分かったふりをする
When is ふりをする used?
Use ふりをする in situations like:
- acting
- hiding feelings
- playing dumb
Tone and register:
- neutral
- Common in acting, test questions, and written narratives
ふりをする example sentences
- 知らないふりをした。 \u2014 I pretended not to know.
- 彼は分かったふりをしている。 \u2014 He is pretending to understand.
- 寝たふりをして逃げた。 \u2014 I pretended to be asleep and ran away.
- 疲れたふりをして仕事をやめた。 \u2014 I pretended to be tired and stopped working.
- 親切なふりをしてだまされた。 \u2014 I was deceived by someone pretending to be kind.
Nuance of ふりをする
The key nuance is always intentional; describes conscious deception or performance, not genuine emotion.
This matters because 〜ふりをする is about acting. It implies the person knows the truth but chooses to perform otherwise. It can be playful, deceptive, or diplomatic..
For example:
- In acting, it sounds natural and specific.
- Compared with そうに見える, it carries a different weight and implication.
ふりをする vs そうに見える
Both ふりをする and そうに見える can express to pretend, but they are different.
ふりをする:
- describes a deliberate act of pretending; intentional and conscious
そうに見える:
- describes how something looks to an observer; no intentionality implied
Quick contrast examples:
- 疲れているそうに見える。 \u2014 They look tired (observation).
- 疲れたふりをしている。 \u2014 They are pretending to be tired (acting).
Common mistakes with ふりをする
Watch out for these mistakes:
- Using it for genuine states (incorrect: 嬉しいふりをする unless actually pretending)
- Confusing it with そうだ (appearance vs. pretense)
- Using it in formal writing where 装う (よそおう) might be more appropriate
Is ふりをする on the JLPT?
Yes. ふりをする is commonly taught as JLPT N3 grammar.
That means learners should be able to:
- recognize it in reading
- understand its nuance in context
- use it in simple original sentences
Practice questions for ふりをする
Try making your own sentences with these prompts:
- Say someone pretended not to see you.
- Describe a child pretending to be asleep.
- Say you pretended to understand a conversation.
Learn ふりをする with Kanjiru
If you want to review ふりをする together with kanji, vocabulary, and other JLPT N3 patterns, Kanjiru helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions.
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