-(으/느)ㄴ 척 하다, -(으/느)ㄴ 체 하다

-(으/느)ㄴ 척 하다, -(으/느)ㄴ 체 하다

1. -(으/느)ㄴ = adjective ending

2. 척/체 = the act of pretending

3. 하다 = to do

Examples

1. 알다 = to know

아는 체 하다 = to pretend to know

아는 척 하다 = to pretend to know

** Here 알다 is a ㄹ irregular verb so ㄹ drops.

2. 자다 = to sleep

자는 척 하다 = to pretend to sleep

자는 체 하다 = to pretend to sleep

3. 예쁘다 = to be pretty

예쁜 척 하다 = to pretend to be pretty, to act as if one was pretty

예쁜 체 하다 = to pretend to be pretty, to act as if one was pretty

You can use -(으/느)ㄴ 첵/체 하다 with past tense and present progressive too.

Examples

1. 알다  알고 있다 (present progressive)

알고 있는 척/체 하다 = to pretend to be aware of something

2. 자다 → 자고 있다 (present progressive)

자고 있는 척/체 하다 = to pretend to be sleeping/asleep

3. 하다 → 한 (past tense adjective form)

한 척/체 하다 = to pretend to have dome something

4. 먹다 → 먹은 (past tence adjective form)

먹은 척/체 하다 = to pretend to have eaten something

** You can't use this structure with future tense. In that case you need different structures, such as -(으)ㄹ 것처럼 행동하다 etc.

Difference between 척 and 체

They are almost the same and and almost always interchangeable, but only 척 can be followed by verbs other than 하다. Which is usually 행동하다 (to behave) or 이야기하다 (to talk). You can also use the part -(으/느)ㄴ척 (without finishing with 하다) as a clause.

Ex)

모르는 척, 조용히 나갔어요.

(While) Pretending as if they didn't know, they went out quietly.

Sample Sentences

1. 모르는 척 하지 말고 빨리 말해 줘요.

Please don't pretend you don't know and tell me quickly.

2. 자는 척 그만하고 알어나요.

Stop to be asleep and get up.

3. 술 마신 척 하지 마세요.

Don't pretend that you drank.

4. 그 사람은 예쁜 척을 너무 많이 해요.

She behaves (too much) as if she is pretty.

5. 아는 척 하지 마세요.

Don't pretend to know.

Don't be a know-it-all.