How to say "suspicion" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 疑問ぎもんnoun, na-adjectiveCovers 'suspicion' only in the weak sense of a doubt or question about something, as in casting doubt on a claim. It is really 'doubt' or 'question', so it seldom expresses serious suspicion of wrongdoing.
- 容疑ようぎnoun, noun (suffix)The suspicion that someone has committed a specific crime, as held by police or prosecutors; it also means the charge itself. This is the word in contexts like arrest or investigation of a suspect.
- 不審ふしんnoun, na-adjectiveSuspicion in the sense of mistrust or finding someone or something strange and dubious, such as suspicious behavior. It conveys wariness toward a person, action, or object rather than a formal accusation.
- 疑念ぎねんnounA doubt or misgiving that lingers in one's mind, a gnawing uncertainty about whether something is true or right. It is an internal feeling of suspicion rather than an outward accusation.
- 嫌疑けんぎnounLike 容疑, this is suspicion of criminal involvement, the suspicion directed at a suspect. It centers on the suspected person's implication in an offense rather than the charge as formally framed.
For legal suspicion of a crime use 容疑 or 嫌疑; for a personal feeling of doubt or mistrust choose 疑念, 不審, or 疑問, depending on whether it is a misgiving, wariness, or a question.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
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