偽る

• Reading: いつわる
• Romaji: itsuwaru
• Kanji breakdown: 偽 (gi/nise) — falsehood, fake, pretence
• Pronunciation: /i.t͡sɯ.wa.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To lie; to deceive; to falsify; to pretend. Covers deliberate misrepresentation of facts, identity, feelings, or intent.

A Group 1 (godan) verb conjugated on the -r stem. Stronger and more deliberate than 嘘をつく (to tell a lie); 偽る implies sustained deception or falsification, such as forging credentials, hiding one's true identity, or suppressing one's genuine emotions. Appears frequently in legal, journalistic, and literary contexts.

Examples

1. 彼は経歴を偽って一流企業に入社したが、すぐに発覚した。 He falsified his credentials to get into a top company, but it was quickly discovered.
2. 気持ちを偽ることなど、彼女には到底できなかった。 She was utterly incapable of faking her feelings.
3. 身分を偽って国境を越えようとした男が逮捕された。 A man who tried to cross the border under a false identity was arrested.

Usage Guide

Context: law, journalism, relationships, literature

Tone: negative

Origin & History

From Old Japanese, connected to the root いつわ- (falseness, pretence). The kanji 偽 (nise/gi) depicts a man acting against his true nature, combining 人 (person) and 為 (act).

Cultural Context

Era: Classical–Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal