How to say "suspect" in Japanese

• 怪しむあやしむCommon
  godan verb, transitive verbThe verb for suspecting that something is amiss or not what it seems. It fits when something strikes you as odd and you suspect wrongdoing or an ulterior motive behind it.
  私達わたしたちはその食べ物たべもののにおいを怪あやしみながらかいだ。↗

  We sniffed at the food suspiciously.
• 気づくきづくJLPT N3approx.Common
  godan verb, intransitive verbThis verb means to notice, realize, or become aware of something, not to suspect. For the sense 'to suspect' it is seldom the word you want.
  彼かれは危険きけんに気きづいていなかった。↗

  He was unaware of the danger.
• 容疑者ようぎしゃCommon
  noun, noun (suffix)The noun for a suspect as a person: someone suspected of a crime. This is the word you hear in news reports and everyday talk about criminal cases.
  警察けいさつが容疑者ようぎしゃを捕つかまえた。↗

  The policeman got the suspect.
• 被疑者ひぎしゃCommon
  nounAlso a noun for a suspect, but the technical legal term used in criminal procedure and legal writing; in general contexts the word you want is 容疑者.
• 疑ううたがうJLPT N3approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbThe broadest verb here: it covers doubting the truth of something, distrusting a person, and suspecting someone of something. Use it when you doubt a statement, distrust a person, or suspect wrongdoing.
  僕ぼくの言葉ことばをまだ疑うたがっているんですか。↗

  Are you still in doubt about what I have said?

For the verb, 「疑う」 broadly covers doubting and suspecting, while 「怪しむ」 focuses on finding something suspicious or wrong; for a suspect as a person use 容疑者 or the legal term 被疑者, and skip 「気づく」, which means to notice.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 怪しむあやしむto suspect
• 気づくきづくto notice
• 容疑者ようぎしゃsuspect
• 被疑者ひぎしゃsuspect
• 疑ううたがうto doubt
• 気がつくきがつくto notice
• 気取るけどるto suspect
• 嫌疑者けんぎしゃsuspect
• マル被マルひsuspect
• 感づくかんづくto sense
• 勘ぐるかんぐるto be suspicious of (someone's motives)
• 犯罪容疑者はんざいようぎしゃsuspected criminal
• 疑るうたぐるto doubt
• 訝るいぶかるto wonder
• にらむto estimate
• 考えるかんがえるto think (that)
• 星ほしperp