Learn Korean: Verb + 척하다

Let’s take a look at the Korean sentence pattern Verb + 척하다. We use this to express pretense; that someone pretends to do something. For example, we say I pretended to sleep and I pretend not to know. The main verbs are 자다 (to sleep) and 모르다 (to not know) respectively. We take the verb stem (자/모르) and attach 는 척하다. Its past tense form is 는 척했다. The actual sentences are 자는 척했어(요) and 모르는 척해(요). That is the case of active verbs. For state verbs (and 있다/없다), we follow a different process. Let's say I pretended to be sick. The main verb is 아프다 (to be sick). We take the verb stem (아프) and attach ㄴ. If the verb stem ends in a consonant, use 은. Then, we add 척하다. Its past tense form is 척했다. The actual sentence is 아픈 척했어(요). Aside from the plain form, we can attach certain verb endings to express a suitable nuance.

모든 걸 아는 척하지마.

Don’t pretend as if you know everything.

서로 모르는 척하자.

Let's pretended we don't know each other.

엄마가 오자마자 공부하는 척했어.
I pretended to study as soon as my mom arrived.