JLPT N3 Grammar – Difference between “〜ふりをする” and “〜まねをする”

Table of Contents

1. Difference between “〜ふりをする” and “〜まねをする”
2. ふりをする
3. まねをする
4. Let’s Compare
5. Summary
6. Quiz
7. Similar Articles
8. Comment

Q: Can you explain the difference between “〜ふりをする” and “〜まねをする”?

A: “〜ふりをする” means to pretend something that is not true. On the other hand, “〜まねをする” means to replicate someone’s actions or way of doing things as they are.

ふりをする (JLPT N3)

[Meaning]
You do something as if it were the same, even though in reality it is different

[Rules]
[V] Verb plain form＋ふりをする
[A] い adjective plain form＋ふりをする
[Na] な adjective＋ふりをする
[N] Noun ＋の ＋ふりをする

[Commonly used verbs]
分わかった(Understood), 分わからない(Didn’t understand), 知しった(Knew), 知しらない(Didn’t know), 寝ねた(Slept), 聞きいている(Listening), 聞きこえない(Couldn’t hear), 死しんだ(Died)

[Commonly used expressions]
知しったかぶりをする(Pretend to know) / 見みて見みぬふりをする(Pretend not to see)

[Examples]
母ははに呼よばれたが面倒めんどうだったので聞きこえないふりをしました。
My mother called me, but I pretended I didn’t hear because it was troublesome.

クラスのゆきさんはおとなしいふりをして、なかなか怖こわい性格せいかくです。
Yuki from class pretends to be quiet, but she actually has quite a scary personality.

彼氏かれしは忙いそがしそうなふりをしているが本当ほんとうはいつも暇ひまです。
My boyfriend pretends to be busy, but he’s actually always free.

男おとこはビジネスマンのふりをして、実じつはさぎ師しでした。
The man pretended to be a businessman, but he was actually a con artist.

まねをする (JLPT N3)

[Meaning]
To copy based on a model
To imitate only the shape or appearance
To replicate someone’s actions or appearance

[Rules]
[V] Verb plain form＋ことを＋まねする
[N] Noun＋の＋まねをする
[N] Noun＋を＋まねする

[Commonly used expressions]
ばかな真似まねはやめなさい(Stop doing foolish imitations)

[Examples]
父ちちがやっていることを真似まねしました。
I imitated what my father was doing.

女の子おんな　こはモデルのまねをして同おなじメイクをしています。
The girl is copying the model’s makeup.

オウムは、人間にんげんの言葉ことばを真似まねすることができます。
Parrots can mimic human speech.

子供こどもはよく友達ともだちや親おやの真似まねをします。
Children often imitate their friends and parents.

Let’s Compare

[ふりをする]

It is often used to hide or falsify the true state, and it can also involve intentionally deceiving or lying to someone.

[Examples]
母ははに呼よばれたが面倒めんどうだったので聞きこえないふりをしました。
My mother called me, but I pretended I didn’t hear because it was troublesome.
⇒ Although I could actually hear, I intentionally hid that fact.

男おとこはビジネスマンのふりをして実じつはさぎ師しで、お年寄としよりからお金かねを盗ぬすんでいました。
The man pretended to be a businessman, but he was actually a con artist, stealing money from the elderly.
⇒ The man acted like a businessman and intentionally deceived the elderly.

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[まね（を）する]

It refers to accurately replicating the actions or appearance of people or things. There is no ill intent, such as lying, but it is used when simply copying or entertaining others.

[Examples]
女の子おんな　こはモデルのまねをして同おなじメイクをしています。
The girl is copying the model’s makeup.
⇒ The girl is copying the model’s makeup for fun.

息子むすこは色々いろいろな動物どうぶつの鳴き声な　ごえをまねして、わたしを笑わらわせます。
My son mimics the sounds of various animals to make me laugh.
⇒ The son is imitating the behavior of animals to entertain his mother.

Summary

[ふりをする]

• It is used when something is not actually in that state but is made to appear as if it is.
• It often involves intentional ill intent.

[まね(を)する]

• It is used when accurately replicating the actions or movements of people or things for personal enjoyment or to entertain others.

Quiz

Read the following sentence and choose the expression that fits the context from the options provided in the parentheses.

Click on the question to check the answer.

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