Definition

1. Verb (colloquial):
   • To pretend: To behave in a way that is intended to deceive or give a false impression about one's true feelings, intentions, or state.
   • To feign: To pretend to be affected by a feeling, state, or injury.
   • To sham: To put on a false appearance; to act dishonestly or deceptively.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Nó đang bố vờ ngủ đấy, đừng tin. (He is pretending to sleep, don't believe him.)
  • Đừng bố vờ không biết gì cả. (Don't feign ignorance.)
  • Cô ấy bố vờ ốm để nghỉ làm. (She shammed illness to take a day off work.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "bố vờ" is primarily used in informal, spoken Vietnamese. It carries a nuance of obvious or unconvincing pretense, often implying the act is transparent to others.

Variants and Related Words

• Giả vờ (v): to pretend. This is the more standard, neutral term for "to pretend," suitable for both formal and informal contexts.
  • Nó giả vờ như không nghe thấy. (He pretended not to hear.)

Synonyms

• Pretend: To speak and act so as to make it appear that something is the case when it is not.
• Feign: To pretend to be affected by.
• Sham: A false display.

Related Idioms

• Bố vờ bố vịt: An intensified, more dismissive colloquial phrase meaning to put on an elaborate or ridiculous pretense.
  • Thôi đi, đừng có bố vờ bố vịt ở đây! (Come on, stop putting on that sham act here!)

khẩu ngữ

1. To pretend, to geign, to sham