Vocab Info

A5 る-verb, Intransitive verb

惚(とぼ)けるto play dumb, to feign ignorance, to play innocent, to have a blank facial expression, to play the fool, to be in one's dotage

    Dictionary Definition

    Common

    1. る-verb, Intransitive verb

      1. 1.

        to play dumb, to feign ignorance, to play innocent, to have a blank facial expression

        Usually written using kana alone

      2. 2.

        to play the fool

        Usually written using kana alone

      3. 3.

        to be in one's dotage

        Usually written using kana alone

    All Forms

    惚ける 【とぼける】、恍ける 【とぼける】

    Details

      • と

      • ぼ

      • け

      • る

    • General Top 8,300

    Examples

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    • 警察(けいさつ)：「とぼけても無駄(むだ)だ！真実(しんじつ)を言(い)え！」

      Police: "It's useless to play dumb! Tell the truth!"

    • 父(ちち)はとぼけた表情(ひょうじょう)で泣(な)いていた弟(おとうと)を笑(わら)わせた。

      My father made my crying younger brother laugh with a blank facial expression.

    • その生徒(せいと)は「悪戯(あくぎ)なんて知(し)らない」と、とぼけました。

      The student feigned ignorance saying, "I don't know anything about the prank."

    • 捕虜(ほりょ)は肝心(かんじん)なことになるととぼけるから、尋問(じんもん)は全(まった)く進(すす)まない。

      The interrogation doesn't progress at all because the prisoner plays the fool when it comes to crucial matters.

    • わざととぼけたことをして、自分(じぶん)を馬鹿(ばか)に見(み)せたいのでしょうか…。

      Are you trying to make yourself look stupid by acting innocent on purpose...?

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