English–Japanese
“pretend not to know” in Japanese
Japanese
Pronunciation
Romajitobokeru
Example
彼は質問されてもとぼけます。kare wa shitsu mon sa re te mo to bo ke ma su
He pretends not to know even when he is asked.
How to say “pretend not to know” in Japanese
“Pretend not to know” in Japanese is とぼける (tobokeru).
Describes acting unaware so that known information can be avoided or concealed.
Example sentences with とぼける
注意されても、とぼけて話をそらします。chū i sa re te mo to bo ke te hanashi o so ra shi ma su
Even when warned, he pretends not to know and changes the subject.
Tips for using とぼける
- In Japanese conversations, とぼける (tobokeru) can describe a person who avoids admitting knowledge by acting innocent, so it often carries a playful or critical tone.