A1 Collocation ニュートラル

Fare finta

To pretend

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use 'fare finta' to describe pretending or acting as if something is true when it actually isn't.

  • Means: To pretend or to make believe (literally 'to make a feint').
  • Used in: Games, social white lies, or ignoring awkward situations.
  • Don't confuse: Never use 'pretendere' to mean pretend; it means 'to demand'!
🎭 + 🤫 = Fare finta (The art of the social mask)

Explanation at your level:

At this level, you just need to know that 'fare finta' means 'to pretend'. Use it with 'di' and a simple verb like 'dormire' (to sleep) or 'mangiare' (to eat). It is a very useful phrase for basic games and simple social excuses.
You can now use 'fare finta di niente' to describe ignoring something. You should also start using it in the past tense (passato prossimo): 'Ho fatto finta'. It helps you explain why you didn't react to something in a conversation.
At the intermediate level, you should begin using 'fare finta che' followed by the indicative or simple subjunctive. You can use it to describe hypothetical situations or more complex social strategies in your storytelling.
You should master the use of the subjunctive after 'fare finta che' (e.g., 'Faceva finta che non fosse successo nulla'). You can also distinguish between 'fare finta', 'fingere', and 'simulare' based on the formality of the situation.
Advanced learners use 'fare finta' to discuss psychological states and literary themes. You understand the nuance of using 'finta' as a noun in sports or rhetoric and can use the phrase to describe complex social phenomena like 'fare finta di essere qualcun altro' in digital contexts.
At this level, you analyze 'fare finta' through the lens of cognitive linguistics—how the metaphor of 'shaping' (fingere) influences Italian thought on reality and deception. You can use the phrase in sophisticated irony and high-level diplomatic or literary discourse.

意味

Acting as if something is true.

🌍

文化的背景

'Fare finta di niente' is a sign of high social intelligence in Italy. It allows others to save face (fare bella figura) when they make a mistake. The concept of 'pretending' is a major theme in Italian neorealism and comedy, often used as a survival mechanism against poverty or war. Italian children use 'Facciamo finta che...' to start almost any imaginative game, similar to 'Let's play...' in English. In Italy, a 'finta' is highly admired in sports like soccer. A player who can 'fare una finta' to trick a defender is considered 'furbo' (clever).

⚠️

The 'Pretendere' Trap

This is the #1 mistake for English speakers. Never use 'pretendere' for 'to pretend'.

🎯

Master the 'Niente'

Learn 'fare finta di niente' as a single block. It makes you sound much more native in social situations.

意味

Acting as if something is true.

⚠️

The 'Pretendere' Trap

This is the #1 mistake for English speakers. Never use 'pretendere' for 'to pretend'.

🎯

Master the 'Niente'

Learn 'fare finta di niente' as a single block. It makes you sound much more native in social situations.

💬

Subjunctive vs Indicative

If you want to sound educated, use the subjunctive after 'che'. If you want to sound like a kid playing, use the indicative.

自分をテスト

Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'fare finta'.

I bambini _______ di essere dei supereroi.

✓ 正解！ ✗ おしい！ 正解: fanno finta

The subject is 'I bambini' (they), so we use the third person plural 'fanno'.

Which sentence is grammatically correct?

Choose the correct way to say 'I pretend to study'.

✓ 正解！ ✗ おしい！ 正解: Faccio finta di studiare.

'Pretendo' is a false friend, and 'fare finta' needs 'di' before an infinitive.

Complete the dialogue.

A: Hai visto che Maria è arrabbiata? B: Sì, ma io _______.

✓ 正解！ ✗ おしい！ 正解: faccio finta di niente

'Fare finta di niente' is the standard idiom for 'acting like nothing is wrong'.

Match the situation to the sentence.

You see your teacher at the cinema and you don't want to talk to her.

✓ 正解！ ✗ おしい！ 正解: Faccio finta di non vederla.

Pretending not to see someone is the logical response to avoiding them.

🎉 スコア： /4

ビジュアル学習ツール

よくある質問

10 問

Yes, but it's more about the 'act' than the words. 'Mentire' is specifically for telling a lie.

Use 'di' before a verb (infinitive). Use 'che' before a full sentence (clause).

Not necessarily. In Italy, 'fare finta di niente' is often considered polite to avoid embarrassing others.

'Fare finta' is common and spoken; 'fingere' is formal and written.

Use 'Facciamo finta che...' or 'Facciamo finta di...'.

Yes, for example: 'Non bisogna fare finta di avere competenze che non si hanno.'

If followed by another word, yes (di/che). If used alone as 'Non fare finta!', then no.

Yes, it means 'a feint' or 'a fake move'.

No, 'finta' is a fixed feminine noun in this expression.

Use 'avere': 'Ho fatto finta'.

関連フレーズ

🔄

fingere

synonym

To pretend (verb)

🔗

fare finta di niente

specialized form

To act as if nothing happened

🔗

simulare

similar

To simulate/fake

🔗

mentire

contrast

To lie

🔗

mettere in scena

builds on

To stage/orchestrate

どこで使う？

🧸

Playing with children

Bambino: Facciamo finta che io sono il drago!

Genitore: Va bene, e io faccio finta di essere il cavaliere.

informal
🏃‍♂️

Avoiding an acquaintance

Giulia: C'è Paolo! Non voglio parlargli.

Maria: Fai finta di guardare le vetrine!

informal
🎉

At a surprise party

Organizzatore: Quando entra, fate finta di niente.

Invitato: Ok, farò finta di essere appena arrivato.

neutral
💼

Hiding a mistake at work

Collega 1: Hai rotto la stampante?

Collega 2: Zitto! Fai finta di niente e torna al tuo posto.

neutral
🍷

On a bad date

Io (al telefono): Mamma, chiamami tra 5 minuti.

Mamma: Perché?

Io: Devo fare finta di avere un'emergenza.

informal
👗

In a clothing store

Amica: Ti piace questo vestito? È orribile!

Tu: Sì, ma la commessa ci guarda. Fai finta di provarlo.

neutral

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a fencer making a 'finta' (feint) to trick their opponent. You are 'making a finta' with your words.

Visual Association

Imagine a child wearing a paper crown and a towel as a cape. They are 'making a finta' of being a king.

Rhyme

Se vuoi giocare e non sei un re, fai finta di esserlo insieme a me!

Story

Marco wants to avoid his boss at the supermarket. He picks up a box of pasta and 'fa finta' to read the ingredients very carefully. He stays there for 5 minutes until the boss leaves. He made a 'finta' to save his weekend.

Word Web

fingerefintasimularebugiagiocomascheraattoreniente

チャレンジ

Go through your day and identify three times you 'fatto finta' (e.g., pretended to be busy, pretended to like a coffee). Say the Italian sentence in your head.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

Hacer ver / Fingir

Spanish often uses 'hacerse el...' (e.g., hacerse el loco) which Italian does less often.

French high

Faire semblant

French 'semblant' is more common than the Italian noun 'finta' in isolation.

German moderate

So tun als ob

German requires a specific word order (verb at the end) that Italian doesn't.

Japanese high

ふりをする (furi o suru)

Japanese grammar places the 'pretended action' before the phrase.

Arabic moderate

تظاهر (tazahara)

It is a single verb rather than a multi-word collocation like in Italian.

Chinese partial

假装 (jiǎzhuāng)

The literal roots refer more to 'disguise' than 'feinting'.

Korean high

척하다 (cheok-hada)

It is an auxiliary-like structure attached directly to verbs.

Portuguese high

Fazer de conta

Portuguese uses 'conta' (account/story) instead of 'finta' (feint).

Easily Confused

Fare finta 対 pretendere

It sounds like 'pretend' but means 'to demand'.

Remember: You 'pretend' with 'fare finta', but you 'demand' with 'pretendere'.

Fare finta 対 fare una finta

Learners might use the article 'una' when they mean the general act of pretending.

Use 'fare finta' for the state of pretending, and 'fare una finta' for a specific physical move (like in sports).

よくある質問 (10)

Yes, but it's more about the 'act' than the words. 'Mentire' is specifically for telling a lie.

Use 'di' before a verb (infinitive). Use 'che' before a full sentence (clause).

Not necessarily. In Italy, 'fare finta di niente' is often considered polite to avoid embarrassing others.

'Fare finta' is common and spoken; 'fingere' is formal and written.

Use 'Facciamo finta che...' or 'Facciamo finta di...'.

Yes, for example: 'Non bisogna fare finta di avere competenze che non si hanno.'

If followed by another word, yes (di/che). If used alone as 'Non fare finta!', then no.

Yes, it means 'a feint' or 'a fake move'.

No, 'finta' is a fixed feminine noun in this expression.

Use 'avere': 'Ho fatto finta'.

役に立った？

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