B1 noun Neutre #3,500 le plus courant 3 min de lecture

ふりをする

furi o suru /ɸɯɾi o̞ sɯɾɯ/

Overview

The Japanese phrase 'ふりをする' (furi o suru) is a versatile and commonly used expression that means 'to pretend,' 'to feign,' or 'to act as if.' It's formed from the noun 'ふり' (furi), which can mean pretense, outward appearance, or show, and the verb 'をする' (o suru), which means 'to do.' Together, they describe the act of putting on an appearance or behaving in a way that is not genuine.

Grammatical Construction

'ふりをする' typically follows a verb in its plain form (dictionary form, ta-form, or nai-form) or a noun/adjective followed by 'の.'

  • Verb (Plain Form) + ふりをする: This is the most common construction. For example:
  • 「知らないふりをする」 (shiranai furi o suru) - to pretend not to know
  • 「寝たふりをする」 (neta furi o suru) - to pretend to be asleep
  • 「聞いているふりをする」 (kiite iru furi o suru) - to pretend to be listening
  • Noun + の + ふりをする: Used when pretending to be a certain role or state.
  • 「病気のふりをする」 (byouki no furi o suru) - to pretend to be sick
  • 「学生のふりをする」 (gakusei no furi o suru) - to pretend to be a student
  • い-Adjective + ふりをする: Used when pretending to be in a certain state described by an い-adjective.
  • 「忙しいふりをする」 (isogashii furi o suru) - to pretend to be busy
  • な-Adjective + な + ふりをする: Used when pretending to be in a certain state described by a な-adjective.
  • 「元気なふりをする」 (genki na furi o suru) - to pretend to be well/energetic

Nuances and Usage

  • Concealment: Often, 'ふりをする' implies an intention to conceal the truth or one's true feelings. For instance, someone might pretend not to notice something to avoid an awkward situation.
  • Deception (mild): While it can involve deception, it's not always malicious. It can be used in playful contexts or to protect someone's feelings. For example, a parent might 'ふりをする' that they believe in Santa Claus for their child's sake.
  • Acting/Role-playing: In some contexts, it can simply refer to acting a part or role-playing, without necessarily implying deception. However, the core meaning still revolves around presenting an image that might not be entirely real.
  • Context is key: The exact nuance of 'ふりをする' heavily depends on the context of the conversation. The speaker's tone, the situation, and the relationship between the individuals involved will all contribute to how the phrase is interpreted.

Examples:

  1. 1彼は知らないふりをして、私を無視した。 (Kare wa shiranai furi o shite, watashi o mushi shita.)
  • He pretended not to know and ignored me.
  1. 1彼女はいつも忙しいふりをして、手伝いを避ける。 (Kanojo wa itsumo isogashii furi o shite, tetsudai o sakeru.)
  • She always pretends to be busy to avoid helping out.
  1. 1子供は寝たふりをして、お菓子を食べようとした。 (Kodomo wa neta furi o shite, okashi o tabeyou to shita.)
  • The child pretended to be asleep and tried to eat sweets.
  1. 1彼は平気なふりをしていたが、内心では傷ついていた。 (Kare wa heiki na furi o shite ita ga, naishin de wa kizutsuite ita.)
  • He was pretending to be fine, but deep down, he was hurt.

Understanding 'ふりをする' is crucial for grasping subtle social interactions and expressions in Japanese, as it highlights the common human tendency to present a certain image to the world.

Exemples

1

彼は知らないふりをした。

日常会話

He pretended not to know.

2

病気のふりをして学校を休んだ。

日常会話

I feigned illness and took a day off from school.

3

彼女はいつも幸せなふりをしている。

人間関係

She always acts as if she's happy.

4

聞こえないふりをして立ち去った。

行動描写

He pretended not to hear and left.

5

何でもないふりをして平静を保った。

感情表現

I pretended it was nothing and kept my composure.

Collocations courantes

知らないふりをする
寝たふりをする
病気のふりをする
見てないふりをする

Souvent confondu avec

ふりをする vs w

80+ WORDS

Modèles grammaticaux

verb-casual + ふりをする noun + のふりをする adjective + ふりをする

Comment l'utiliser

Notes d'usage

When using 'ふりをする,' it typically follows the plain form of a verb or a noun/adjective followed by 'の.' For example, '知らないふりをする' (shiranai furi o suru) means 'to pretend not to know,' and '病気のふりをする' (byouki no furi o suru) means 'to pretend to be sick.' The nuance of 'ふりをする' can range from harmless pretense to deliberate deception, depending on the context. It can imply a conscious effort to conceal one's true feelings, intentions, or state. It's important to consider the social context when interpreting or using this phrase, as the implication can vary greatly. While it can be used to describe genuine acting, it more commonly suggests a disconnect between appearance and reality.


Erreurs courantes

One common mistake is confusing ふりをする (furi o suru - to pretend) with ような気がする (yō na ki ga suru - to feel like, to have a hunch that). While both involve a sense of 'as if,' ふりをする implies intentional deception or acting, whereas ような気がする is about a personal feeling or intuition. For example, you 'pretend to be asleep' (寝たふりをする), but you 'feel like it's going to rain' (雨が降るような気がする). Another mistake can be misusing the particle. It's always に before ふりをする when describing the state one is pretending to be in (e.g., 病気のふりをする - byōki no furi o suru - to pretend to be sick). Don't use を directly with the state you are pretending to be, as を is for the direct object of the verb. Furthermore, ensure you are using the plain form of the verb before ふりをする, not the ます form. For instance, 読むふりをする (yomu furi o suru - to pretend to read) is correct, while 読みますふりをする is incorrect. Also, remember that the noun before ふりをする takes the の particle: 医者のふりをする (isha no furi o suru - to pretend to be a doctor). Finally, some learners might over-rely on this phrase when more natural expressions exist, especially in casual speech. For example, instead of 'He pretended to not know,' one might simply say 'He acted like he didn't know' or 'He played dumb.' However, for explicitly stating 'to pretend,' ふりをする is the most direct and common expression.

Astuces

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Usage Context

ふりをする is commonly used when someone is intentionally acting in a way that is not true to their actual feelings or situation. It implies a conscious effort to deceive or create a false impression. For example, you might use it to describe someone pretending to be sick to avoid work, or pretending to be happy when they are actually sad.

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Common Mistakes

A common mistake is to confuse ふりをする with ~のようだ (no you da) or ~みたいだ (mitai da), which mean 'it seems like' or 'it looks like'. While both express a resemblance, ふりをする specifically implies an act of pretending, while ~のようだ/~みたいだ express an observation or inference. For instance, 病気のふりをする (byouki no furi o suru) means 'to pretend to be sick', but 病気のようだ (byouki no you da) means 'it seems like he is sick' (without implying intent).

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Related Expressions

Similar expressions include ~のまねをする (no mane o suru - to imitate), which focuses on copying actions or behaviors rather than feigning a state, and ~を装う (o yosou - to pretend; to disguise oneself), which often has a more formal or literary tone and can imply a more elaborate deception. For example, 笑顔を装う (egao o yosou - to feign a smile) can be used in more serious contexts.

Origine du mot

From ふり (furi, “outward appearance; pretence”) + を (o, direct object particle) + する (suru, “to do”).

Contexte culturel

The phrase 'ふりをする' (furi o suru) is a common expression in Japanese that translates to 'to pretend,' 'to feign,' or 'to act as if.' It's often used in situations where someone is consciously putting on an act or a facade, whether to deceive, to be polite, or to avoid an uncomfortable situation. In Japanese society, there's a strong emphasis on maintaining harmony (wa) and avoiding direct confrontation, so 'ふりをする' can sometimes be employed as a social lubricant. For instance, one might 'ふりをする' to be busy to politely decline an invitation without directly saying no, or 'ふりをする' to understand something even if they don't, to avoid causing embarrassment to the speaker. It can also be used in more playful contexts, such as children 'ふりをする' to be superheroes.

Astuce mémo

Visualize someone 'faking a movement' (ふりをする) – perhaps a karate chop that doesn't quite connect, or a chef pretending to flip a pancake but just moving the pan around. The 'ふり' part sounds a bit like 'flee' or 'free,' so you could imagine someone trying to 'flee' from responsibility by 'pretending' to be sick, or someone being 'free' to act however they want by 'acting as if' they are someone else.

Questions fréquentes

4 questions

'ふりをする' (furi o suru) is a Japanese phrase that translates to 'to pretend,' 'to feign,' or 'to act as if.' It describes the act of behaving in a way that is not genuine, often to deceive or to create a specific impression. This can range from harmless play-acting to more serious deception, depending on the context. It implies putting on an act or a facade.

It's typically used with a noun or a verb in its plain form followed by 'ふりをする'. For example, '知らないふりをする' (shiranai furi o suru) means 'to pretend not to know.' Another example is '寝たふりをする' (neta furi o suru), which means 'to pretend to be asleep.' The phrase can be conjugated like a regular verb, so you might see 'ふりをした' (pretended) or 'ふりをしていました' (was pretending).

Yes, 'ふりをする' can carry different nuances depending on the situation. It can be used for innocent pretending, such as a child playing make-believe. However, it can also imply a more deliberate act of deception or hypocrisy, where someone is intentionally misleading others about their true feelings, intentions, or state. The context usually clarifies whether the pretending is harmless or more manipulative.

While 'ふりをする' is quite common, other phrases convey similar meanings. For example, '〜のまねをする' (mane o suru) means 'to imitate' or 'to mimic,' which can sometimes involve pretending. '〜を装う' (yosoo) means 'to pretend' or 'to feign,' often used in more formal or literary contexts to describe putting on an appearance. '〜の格好をする' (kakko o suru) means 'to dress up as' or 'to pose as,' which is a type of pretending.

Teste-toi

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彼は病気の(   )をした。

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
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彼女は知らない(   )をした。

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
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忙しい(   )をして、手伝いを断った。

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :

Score : /3

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