How to say "suspicious" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 怪しいあやしいi-adjectiveCovers 'suspicious' in the sense of seeming untrustworthy or shady — a person, behavior, or deal that makes you wary; also dubious, questionable, or dodgy things.
- 怪しげあやしげna-adjective, nounDescribes something that gives a suspicious or dubious impression — a look, manner, or scheme that seems questionable. It points to the suspicious air something gives off, the 'suspicious-looking' feel.
- 変へんna-adjectiveReally means strange, odd, or weird; its link to 'suspicious' is loose — something that seems off or not right. Seldom the word you want for a shady or untrustworthy person or scheme.
- 疑わしいうたがわしいi-adjectiveCovers 'suspicious' as doubtful or questionable: the truth, reliability, or validity of something is in doubt, as with a claim, story, or explanation that seems uncertain or disputable.
- 臭いくさいi-adjectiveThe 'fishy' sense of suspicious: a story, excuse, or arrangement that seems off, as if something about it stinks. Figurative, echoing the literal smell meaning of the word.あいつが臭い。↗He looks suspicious.
Use 「怪しい」 for people or things that seem untrustworthy, 「怪しげ」 for a suspicious look or air, 「疑わしい」 for doubtful claims, 「臭い」 for fishy situations, and 変 when something is simply strange or odd rather than shady.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 怪しいあやしいsuspicious
- 怪しげあやしげquestionable
- 変へんstrange
- 疑わしいうたがわしいdoubtful
- 胡散うさんsuspicious
- 訝しいいぶかしいsuspicious
- いかがわしいsuspicious
- 怪訝けげんpuzzled
- 疑い深いうたがいぶかいdoubting
- 疑り深いうたぐりぶかいdoubting
- 得体の知れないえたいのしれないstrange
- 得体が知れないえたいがしれないstrange
- いぶかしげquizzical
- 得体の知れぬえたいのしれぬstrange
- 臭いくさいsuspicious
- 黒いくろいsuspicious
- きな臭いきなくさいsuspicious
- ノワールdark
- おかしいsuspicious
- 暗いくらいill-boding
- おかしなsuspicious
- 生臭いなまぐさいfishy
See also
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