Korean word

척하다

Pronunciation

Romanizationcheokada

Meaning

  • verbpretend

Example

그는 아무렇지 않은 척했어요.keu neun a mu reo chi a neun cheo kae sseo yo

He pretended to be fine.

Illustration for 척하다 (pretend)

More examples

그는 상사 앞에서 바쁜 척했어요.keu neun sang sa a pe seo pa ppeun cheo kae sseo yo

He pretended to be busy in front of his boss.

Core concept

Showing a chosen outward state instead of revealing what is really happening inside.

Common phrases

  • 모르는 척하다mo reu neun cheo ka da

    pretend not to know

  • 바쁜 척하다pa ppeun cheo ka da

    pretend to be busy

  • 잘 아는 척하다chal a neun cheo ka da

    pretend to know well

Similar words

가장하다kajanghada: Present oneself as another person or as being in a different state.
체하다chehada: Pretend to be sick or uncomfortable without actually being ill.
속이다sogida: Lead someone to accept a false belief through lies or concealed facts.
시치미를 떼다sichimireul tteda: Pretend not to know something while acting completely unconcerned.

Definition in Korean

자신의 상황이나 감정을 숨기고 겉으로는 다르게 보이게 행동하는 동사.cha si nui sang hwang i na kam jeong eul sum gi go keo teu ro neun ta reu ge po i ge haeng dong ha neun tong sa

Word origin

The word developed by combining a noun for an assumed appearance with the verb meaning do, so its structure suggests performing a state.

Usage tips

  • It describes more than a false statement because the emphasis is on how someone presents themselves through behavior.

Opposites

Word lists with this word