-(으)ㄴ/는 척하다 — Pretend, Act like, Feign, Make believe

This expression is used to indicate the subject's acting in a way that goes contrary to reality or to describe such a state of affair. The description of what is contrary to reality appears in the clause preceding -(으)ㄴ/는 척하다.

Details

1. When this expression is used with the verb 알다, the verb should only be used in the present tense, not the past tense.

나는 잘 알지도 못하면서 안 척하는 사람이 제일 싫어요. ✕

2. When used in past tense situations, the form -(으)ㄴ 척했다 is used when referring to the subject's acting as if he/she had done something but in reality did not, while the form -는 척했다 is used when referring to the subject's acting as if he/she was in the process of doing something but in reality was not.

음식이 부족한 것 같아서 저녁을 먹은 척했어요.

The subject did not eat anything but acted as if he/she did.

다이어트를 하고 있어서 음식을 먹는 척했어요.

The subject acted as if he/she were eating despite not really eating anything.

3. This expression can be replaced with -(으)ㄴ/는 채하다 in all cases.

이 대리님은 사장님 앞에서만 열심히 일하는 척합니다.

가: 아까 넘어졌을 때 아프지 않았어요? 나: 정말 아팠어요. 하지만 사람들이 보고 있어서 아프지 않은 척했어요.

A: Didn’t it hurt when you fell earlier? B: It really hurt. But with everyone watching, I acted like it didn't hurt.

가: 얘기하다가 왜 갑자기 자는 척해요? 나: 쉿, 저기 앞에 할아버지가 걸어오시잖아요. 오늘은 좀 피곤해서 자리를 양보 못 하겠거든요.

A: Why are you acting like you're asleep in the middle of having a conversation. B: Shh! See that old man over there walking this way? I'm tired and today don't feel like giving my seat up to him.