gaa2 zong1假裝假装
Jyutpinggaa2 zong1
Yalegá jōng
Definition
To pretend or feign; to deliberately act in a certain way to conceal the truth.
neutraldaily actionspeople
How it's used
While 假裝 is understood in Cantonese, native speakers overwhelmingly prefer the verb 扮 when describing someone acting a certain way to deceive others. Using 扮 is far more natural in daily speech, whereas 假裝 carries a slightly more formal or literary tone that might sound stiff in casual conversation.
Examples
He is pretending not to know, but actually he is very clear about it.
Why are you pretending to be asleep?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often use 假裝 in every situation where they want to say pretend, but 扮 is much more versatile and common. For example, 扮傻 is the standard way to say to play dumb, while 假裝傻 sounds unnatural to a local ear.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
