1.
to disguise oneself as, to dress up as
To change one's appearance to look like someone or something else, typically by wearing a costume or makeup.
サンタクロースに扮した。
He dressed up as Santa Claus.
警察官に扮した男が逮捕された。
A man disguised as a police officer was arrested.
ハロウィンで魔女に扮した子供たちが町を歩いていた。
Children dressed up as witches were walking through the town on Halloween.
2.
to play the role of, to act as
To portray a character in a performance, film, or play. Used in theatrical and cinematic contexts.
主人公に扮する俳優が決まった。
The actor who will play the lead role has been decided.
彼女は歴史上の人物に扮して舞台に立った。
She took the stage playing a historical figure.
有名な俳優が悪役に扮するということで話題になった。
It became a topic of discussion that a famous actor would play the villain.
扮する is used for both costume disguises and theatrical roles. The particle に marks the character or figure being portrayed.
PATTERN:
- 〜に扮する: to dress up as ~, to play the role of ~
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 女装に扮する: to disguise oneself as a woman
- 主人公に扮する: to play the lead
- 悪役に扮する: to play the villain
- 〜に扮した姿: the appearance of someone disguised as ~
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 変装する: to disguise oneself (emphasizes concealing identity)
- 演じる: to act, to perform (broader term for performing a role)