Japanese Conversation · Level 128
60 words
Japanese word
装う
Pronunciation
Romajiyosōu
Meaning
- verbpretend
Example
彼は何も知らないように装います。kare wa nan mo shi ra na i yō ni yosō i ma su
He pretends not to know anything.
More examples
彼は不安を隠して、平静を装いました。kare wa fu an o kaku shi te hei sei o yosō i ma shi ta
He hid his anxiety and pretended to be calm.
Core concept
It involves shaping one's visible appearance or behavior to suggest a state that is not genuine.
Common phrases
平静を装うhei sei o yosō u
pretend to be calm
無知を装うmu chi o yosō u
feign ignorance
Similar words
偽るitsuwaru: To state or show something untrue in order to conceal the truth.
演じるenjiru: To behave as though a particular role, feeling, or condition is genuine.
見せかけるmisekakeru: To cause something to seem to have a quality or state that it lacks.
Definition in Japanese
本心や実際の状態とは違う姿や態度を、意図的に示す。hon shin ya jis sai no jō tai to wa chiga u sugata ya tai do o i to teki ni shime su
Word origin
装う (yosoō) is a native Japanese verb, and the character 装 (sō, "to dress or adorn") reflects its older sense of preparing one's outward appearance before the meaning broadened to pretending.
Usage tips
- Unlike English dress up, 装う (yosoō) can describe adopting an attitude or appearance, so it applies to emotions and knowledge as well as clothing.
Other meanings
- dress upverb
- disguise oneselfverb
Related words
- 装いyosōiappearancenoun