とぼける（とぼける）
JLPT N1 · Ichidan verb (Group 2)
Pitch accent: nakadaka (middle-high) — pitch drops after mora 3
Meaning: to feign ignorance/play dumb
Conjugation
| Form | Japanese | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| masu-form (polite) | とぼけます | とぼけます |
| te-form | とぼけて | とぼけて |
| ta-form (past) | とぼけた | とぼけた |
| nai-form (negative) | とぼけない | とぼけない |
| potential form | とぼけられる | とぼけられる |
Example sentences
- 知っているのにとぼける。 — He plays dumb even though he knows.
- とぼけた顔で答えない。 — She feigns ignorance and doesn't answer.
Related words
See it used in real works
- Example sentences from Japanese novels & web fiction (Massif)
- Hear “とぼける” pronounced in real videos (YouGlish)