Japanese JLPT Grammar Point
~ふりをする (〜furi wo suru)

~ふりをする (〜furi wo suru)

Short explanation:

Pretending or acting as if; 'pretend', 'act like'.

Formation:

Verb (dictionary form) + ふりをする, い-Adjective + ふりをする, な-Adjective + ふりをする, Noun + ふりをする

Examples:

彼は知らないふりをしました。
Kare wa shiranai furi wo shimashita.
He pretended not to know.
彼女は病気のふりをして、学校を休みました。
Kanojo wa byouki no furi wo shite, gakkou wo yasumimashita.
She pretended to be sick and skipped school.
彼は嬉しいふりをしていますが、本当は悲しいです。
Kare wa ureshii furi wo shiteimasu ga, hontou wa kanashii desu.
He is pretending to be happy, but he is actually sad.
彼女はリーダーのふりをして、チームを率いました。
Kanojo wa riidaa no furi wo shite, chiimu wo hikimashita.
She pretended to be a leader and led the team.

Long explanation:

The ~ふりをする grammar point is used to express that someone is pretending or acting as if they are doing something, feeling a certain way, or possessing a certain quality. It can be translated as 'pretend' or 'act like' in English. The formation is the same for verbs, い-adjectives, な-adjectives, and nouns.

Detailed Grammar notes:

Processing keyword: ~ふりをする (〜furi wo suru)

Japanese Grammar Point: ~ふりをする (〜furi wo suru)

1. Introduction

The Japanese grammar point ~ふりをする (〜furi wo suru) is used to express the act of pretending or feigning something. It conveys that someone is acting as if they are in a certain state or performing a certain action, even though it is not genuine. This expression is commonly used in everyday conversations and writings to describe intentional deception or pretense.

2. Core Grammar Explanation

Meaning

  • ~ふりをする means "to pretend to...", "to act as if...", or "to feign...".

Structure

The structure varies slightly depending on whether you're using a verb, adjective, or noun:

  1. Verb (Casual form) + ふりをする
  2. い-adjective (Plain form) + ふりをする
  3. な-adjective + な + ふりをする
  4. Noun + の + ふりをする

Formation Diagram

Part of Speech Formation Example
Verb Verb (Casual form) + ふりをする 見る → 見るふりをする
(Pretend to see)
い-adjective い-adjective (Plain form) + ふりをする 楽しい → 楽しいふりをする
(Pretend to be having fun)
な-adjective な-adjective + + ふりをする 元気 → 元気なふりをする
(Pretend to be energetic)
Noun Noun + + ふりをする 学生 → 学生のふりをする
(Pretend to be a student)

3. Comparative Analysis

Comparison with Similar Grammar Points

  • ~ように見える (seems like...)
    • Difference:
      • ~ふりをする implies intentional pretense by the subject.
      • ~ように見える describes how something appears to others, without implying intentionality. Example:
  • 彼は病気のふりをした。
    • He pretended to be sick. (He is not sick but is pretending.)
  • 彼は病気のように見える。
    • He looks sick. (He appears sick to others.)

4. Examples in Context

1. Verb Example

  • 彼は寝ているふりをした。
    • Romanization: Kare wa neteiru furi wo shita.
    • Translation: He pretended to be sleeping.

2. い-adjective Example

  • 彼女は興味がないふりをしている。
    • Romanization: Kanojo wa kyoumi ga nai furi wo shiteiru.
    • Translation: She is pretending to have no interest.

3. な-adjective Example

  • 彼は大丈夫なふりをした。
    • Romanization: Kare wa daijoubu na furi wo shita.
    • Translation: He pretended to be okay.

4. Noun Example

  • 子供たちは先生のふりをして遊んでいる。
    • Romanization: Kodomo-tachi wa sensei no furi wo shite asondeiru.
    • Translation: The children are playing by pretending to be teachers.

5. Informal Conversation

  • 知らないふりをしないで、教えてよ!
    • Romanization: Shiranai furi wo shinaide, oshiete yo!
    • Translation: Don't pretend you don't know, tell me!

6. Formal Writing

  • 彼は何事もなかったかのようにふりを続けた。
    • Romanization: Kare wa nanigoto mo nakatta ka no you ni furi wo tsudzuketa.
    • Translation: He continued to pretend as if nothing had happened.

5. Cultural Notes

Cultural Relevance

In Japanese society, harmony and avoiding direct confrontation are valued. Sometimes people might not express their true feelings to maintain social harmony. Using ~ふりをする reflects this cultural nuance of indirect expression and understatement.

Levels of Politeness and Formality

  • The verb する can be conjugated to match the politeness level:
    • Casual Speech: ふりをする
      • Example: 知らないふりをする。
    • Polite Speech: ふりをします
      • Example: 知らないふりをします。

Idiomatic Expressions

  • 死んだふりをする
    • Literal Translation: Pretend to be dead.
    • Usage: Often used metaphorically to describe someone avoiding responsibility or pretending to be unaware.

6. Common Mistakes and Tips

Error Analysis

  1. Incorrect Particle Usage with Nouns
    • Incorrect: 彼は先生ふりをした。
    • Correct: 彼は先生のふりをした.
    • Tip: Always use after a noun before ふりをする.
  2. Using the Wrong Form of Adjectives
    • Incorrect with な-adjective: 彼女は静かふりをした。
    • Correct: 彼女は静かなふりをした。
    • Tip: Don't forget to add after a な-adjective.

Learning Strategies

  • Mnemonic Device:

    • Think of ふり (furi) as "flurry"—imagine someone creating a "flurry" of actions to pretend or fake something.
  • Practice Conjugation:

    • Create sentences using different verbs, adjectives, and nouns to become comfortable with the structure.

7. Summary and Review

Key Takeaways

  • ~ふりをする is used to express pretending or feigning.
  • Can be used with verbs, い-adjectives, な-adjectives, and nouns.
  • Pay attention to particle after nouns and after な-adjectives.
  • Conjugate する according to the required politeness level.

Quick Recap Quiz

  1. Fill in the blank: To say "He pretended to read," you would say 彼は本を____ふりをした。
    • Answer: 読む
  2. True or False: When using a noun with ~ふりをする, you should use the particle .
    • Answer: False (You should use )
  3. Choose the correct sentence: a) 彼女は疲れたふりをした。 b) 彼女は疲れたなふりをした。
    • Answer: a) 彼女は疲れたふりをした。

By mastering ~ふりをする, you can express subtle nuances about actions and intentions, enhancing your Japanese communication skills.

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