Kamatoto (かまとと - Playing Innocent)

Kamatoto

When someone (especially a woman) pretends she does not know something even if she knows it well, we call her 'kamatoto' (かまとと).

'Kama' (かま) is short for 'kamaboko' (かまぼこ - "boiled fish paste"), and 'toto' (とと) is a baby word to mean "fish."

'Kamaboko' is the common Japanese food made from fish paste.

However, in the Edo period, a prostitute said in a very artificial way "かまぼこ was made from とと?" to pretend she was ignorant of the world.

It is said that the word 'kamatoto' was borne from the story.

かまとと

知っているのに知らないふりをして、うぶらしくふるまう人（特に女性）のことを「かまとと」と言うことがあります。

「かま」は「かまぼこ」の略、「とと」は「魚」を意味する幼児語です。

かまぼこは、魚のすり身から作られた庶民の食べ物です。

しかし、江戸時代にある遊女が世間知らずを装うため、「かまぼこはととからできているの？」とわざとらしく聞いたそうです。

このことから、知っているのに知らないふりをすることを意味する「かまとと」という言葉が生まれたとされています。

• When someone (especially a woman) pretends she does not know something even if she knows it well, we call her 'kamatoto' (かまとと).
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• 'Kama' (かま) is short for 'kamaboko' (かまぼこ - "boiled fish paste"), and 'toto' (とと) is a baby word to mean "fish."
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• 'Kamaboko' is the common Japanese food made from fish paste.
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• However, in the Edo period, a prostitute said in a very artificial way "かまぼこ was made from とと?" to pretend she was ignorant of the world.
• However, in the Edo period, a prostitute said in a very artificial way "かまぼこ was made from とと?" to pretend she was ignorant of the world.

  This is just a recommendation. Nothing is wrong with this sentence:
  ".. a prostitute inquire in a very innocent way .."

• It is said that the word 'kamatoto' was borne from the story.
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

Very good :)