V/A + -(으)ㄴ/는 척하다 (체하다) – Pretend to / Act As If

Conjugation & Pattern

• Present: Verb (and 있다/없다) + -는 척하다/체하다 | Adjective + -(으)ㄴ 척하다/체하다 | Noun + 인 척하다/체하다
• Past (Verb): V + -(으)ㄴ 척하다/체하다 (e.g., 못 본 척하다, 알아들은 척하다)

Detailed Usage

Expresses that the subject acts or behaves outwardly as though something were true when in reality it is not ('pretend to / act as if'). '척하다' and '체하다' are interchangeable.

Example Sentences

1. 1

   제 동생은 어머니가 방에 들어오시면 열심히 공부하는 척해요.

   Je dongsaengeun eomeoniga bange deureoosimyeon yeolsimhi gongbuhaneun cheokhaeyo.

   Whenever my mother walks into the room, my younger sibling pretends to be studying hard.

2. 2

   속으로는 많이 당황했지만 겉으로는 아무렇지 않은 척했습니다.

   Sogeuroneun mani danghwanghaetjiman geoteuroneun amureotji aneun cheokhaetseumnida.

   Inside I was very flustered, but on the outside I acted as if nothing was wrong.

3. 3

   길에서 옛날 남자친구를 우연히 만났는데 못 본 척하고 지나갔어요.

   Gireseo yennal namjachingureul uyeonhi mannanneunde mot bon cheokhago jinagasseoyo.

   I ran into my ex-boyfriend on the street by chance, but I pretended not to see him and walked past.