HYEJU LANGUAGE LAB · INTERMEDIATE 15 · LESSON 100
-(으)ㄴ/는 척하다Pretend to… / Act as if…
-(으)ㄴ/는 척하다 says someone acts as if something were true when it isn’t: 자는 척해요 (pretend to be asleep), 모르는 척했어요 (pretended not to know). The modifier before 척 shows the time of what is pretended.
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A situation you already know
Your little brother hears Mom calling him to clean his room.
My brother heard Mom’s voice and pretended to be asleep.
He wasn’t really sleeping. 자는 척 = acting like someone who is sleeping.
Build the form
- 자다 → 자 + 는 척하다 → 자는 척하다Complete expression
- 모르다 → 모르 + 는 척하다 → 모르는 척하다Complete expression
- 먹다 → 먹 + 은 척하다 → 먹은 척하다Complete expression
- 바쁘다 → 바쁘 + ㄴ 척하다 → 바쁜 척하다Complete expression
- 학생 → 학생 + 인 척하다 → 학생인 척하다Complete expression
- Something happening now: V-는 척하다 → 자는 척, 듣는 척, 모르는 척.
- Something already done: V-(으)ㄴ 척하다 → 먹은 척, 본 척, 들은 척.
- Adjectives: A-(으)ㄴ 척하다 → 바쁜 척, 아픈 척, 괜찮은 척.
- 있다/없다: -는 척하다 → 재미있는 척, 돈이 없는 척.
- Nouns: N인 척하다 → 학생인 척, 선생님인 척.
- 척하다 = 체하다 (체 is slightly more formal). Put a space before 척; 척하다 itself is one word.
Think in Korean · an English-speaker’s guide
- English “pretend to” takes an infinitive; Korean uses a modifier + 척하다, so you choose the time: 본 척 (pretend to have seen) vs 보는 척 (pretend to be watching).
- Common set phrases: 못 본 척하다 (pretend not to have seen / look the other way), 모르는 척하다 (play dumb), 아는 척하다 (act like you know).
- 아는 척하다 can also be neutral: 길에서 친구를 만났는데 아는 척을 안 했어요 (I ran into a friend, but they didn’t say hi).
Six examples in context
When I’m sleepy in class, I pretend to be listening.
I saw my ex on the street, but pretended I hadn’t.
He acts like he knows everything, but actually he doesn’t know much.
I acted like I was fine so my friend wouldn’t worry.
I pretended I’d finished my homework, but the teacher noticed.
The child plays teacher, teaching her dolls.
Compare with related patterns
-(으)ㄴ/는 것 같다
자는 것 같아요.“He seems to be asleep.” Your guess about what is real, not pretending (Lesson 74).
-아/어 보이다
피곤해 보여요.“You look tired.” How something appears (Lesson 112).
-(으)ㄴ/는 체하다
모르는 체했어요.Same meaning as 척하다, a little more formal or written.
| Pattern | Choose it when… |
|---|---|
| -(으)ㄴ/는 척하다 | act as if something untrue were true |
| -(으)ㄴ/는 체하다 | the same, a bit more formal |
| -(으)ㄴ/는 것 같다 | guess what is really true |
| -아/어 보이다 | how something looks |
Common mistakes
Put a space between the modifier and 척.
Adjectives take -(으)ㄴ.
Pretending you already did it → -(으)ㄴ 척.
Nouns need 인.
Mini practice · six questions
Try each one before opening the answer. Translation answers are models; other natural wording is possible.
- Fill in the blank엄마가 불렀는데 동생은 못 ______했어요. (듣다)
Check answer
엄마가 불렀는데 동생은 못 들은 척했어요.
Pretend not to have heard → 들은 척 (ㄷ irregular).
- Fill in the blank피곤했지만 ______했어요. (괜찮다)
Check answer
피곤했지만 괜찮은 척했어요.
Adjective → 괜찮은 척.
- Choose the natural form친구가 비밀을 말했을 때 저는 처음 (듣는 / 들은) 척했어요.
Check answer
듣는
Acting as if hearing it for the first time, right then → 듣는 척.
- Choose the natural form그 사람은 (부자인 / 부자는) 척해요.
Check answer
부자인
Noun → N인 척.
- Fix the mistake시험이 어려웠지만 친구 앞에서 쉽는 척했어요.
Check answer
시험이 어려웠지만 친구 앞에서 쉬운 척했어요.
쉽다 is an ㅂ-irregular adjective → 쉬운 척.
- Say it in KoreanHe pretended not to know me.
Check answer
그 사람은 저를 모르는 척했어요.
모르다 → 모르는 척.
Today’s key point
Pretend: V-는 척 (now), V-(으)ㄴ 척 (already done), A-(으)ㄴ 척, N인 척 + 하다. Space before 척.
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