pretend not to know; play dumb
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to pretend not to know; to play dumb; to feign ignorance
dialectDialect term primarily used in northern China. Indicates deliberately pretending not to know or understand something, often to avoid responsibility or answer questions.
Wǒ我
wèn问
tā他
，
tā他
gēn跟
wǒ我
dǎ打
yáng佯
r儿
。
I asked him, but he played dumb with me.
Bié别
gēn跟
wǒ我
dǎ打
yáng佯
r儿
，
wǒ我
zhī知
dào道
nǐ你
qīng清
chu楚
zhè这
jiàn件
shì事
。
Don't play dumb with me; I know you're clear about this matter.
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Jǐng警
chá察
wèn问
tā他
de的
shí时
hou候
，
tā他
jiù就
dǎ打
yáng佯
r儿
zhuāng装
hú糊
tu涂
。
When the police questioned him, he played dumb and pretended to be confused.