Definition

1. Verb phrase:
   • To play a role / to act: The literal meaning refers to performing a part in a play, drama, or theatrical performance.
   • To pretend / to feign: The most common figurative meaning is to put on an act, to behave in a way that is not genuine, often to deceive or to create a specific impression.

Usage Examples

• Literal (to act):
  • Anh ấy đóng trò chính trong vở kịch. (He played the main role in the play.)
• Figurative (to pretend):
  • Đừng đóng trò nữa, tôi biết sự thật rồi. (Stop pretending, I know the truth already.)
  • Nó đang đóng trò khóc để được thương hại. (He is pretending to cry to gain sympathy.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase is often used in a critical or disapproving tone to call out someone's insincere or theatrical behavior.
• It can imply that the act is obvious, clumsy, or unconvincing.

Variants and Related Words

• Đóng kịch (verb phrase): to act in a play; (figuratively) to put on an act, to pretend. This is a very close synonym.
  • Cô ấy không buồn, cô ấy chỉ đang đóng kịch thôi. (She is not sad, she is just putting on an act.)

Synonyms

• To pretend: to behave so as to make it appear that something is the case when in fact it is not.
• To feign: to pretend to be affected by (a feeling, state, or injury).
• To put on an act: to behave in a way that is intended to impress or deceive others.

Related Idioms

• While "đóng trò" itself is idiomatic, it is often used in the imperative command "Thôi đóng trò đi!" meaning "Stop the act!" or "Cut the pretense!"