What is the grammar in 見て見ない?


I saw 見て見ない used in the sense of "not to see", e.g.:

見て見ないふりをして通り過ぎた. (He passed by pretending not to see me.)

What is the grammar behind this form?

I thought it is Verb+て + Verb, but both verbs are the same (unless they are
used in different meanings?). It's not Verb+て+みる (since the meaning would be
completely different). And it's not a standalone word, since the dictionary
does not mention it (except in examples).

Also, what's the difference with 見てない? And can it be used in affirmative
(見て見る) to mean "to see"?




It is a variant of the set phrase
[見て見ぬふりをする](https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/word/%E8%A6%8B%E3%81%A6%E8%A6%8B%E3%81%AC%E6%8C%AF%E3%82%8A%E3%82%92%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B/#jn-214126).
The closest expression in English seems to be [_to turn a blind eye to
sth_](https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/word/en/%E8%A6%8B%E9%80%83%E3%81%99/#je-73103).

Breaking down the phrase, it is 見て＋見ぬふりをする= _see and pretend not to see_ ,
meaning _to overlook_.

* * *

Typical examples:

  1. 悪事を見て見ないふりをする - overlook (someone's) wrong doing
  2. 困っている人を見て見ぬふりをする - overlook (someone) having a trouble (= do not offer help)




It is a variant of the set phrase
[見て見ぬふりをする](https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/word/%E8%A6%8B%E3%81%A6%E8%A6%8B%E3%81%AC%E6%8C%AF%E3%82%8A%E3%82%92%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B/#jn-214126).
The closest expression in English seems to be [_to turn a blind eye to
sth_](https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/word/en/%E8%A6%8B%E9%80%83%E3%81%99/#je-73103).

Breaking down the phrase, it is 見て＋見ぬふりをする= _see and pretend not to see_ ,
meaning _to overlook_.

* * *

Typical examples:

  1. 悪事を見て見ないふりをする - overlook (someone's) wrong doing
  2. 困っている人を見て見ぬふりをする - overlook (someone) having a trouble (= do not offer help)

