怪しむ|あやしむayashimu[3]nakadaka (mid-high)

Common
Definitions
  1. godan verb, transitive verbto suspect
    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.
Conjugation
Dictionary form怪しむ(あやしむ)
Polite (masu)怪しみます(あやしみます)
Negative (nai)怪しまない(あやしまない)
polite (masen)怪しみません(あやしみません)
classical zu / nu怪しまず・怪しまぬ(あやしまず・あやしまぬ)
Past (ta)怪しんだ(あやしんだ)
polite (mashita)怪しみました(あやしみました)
Past negative (nakatta)怪しまなかった(あやしまなかった)
polite (masen deshita)怪しみませんでした(あやしみませんでした)
Te form怪しんで(あやしんで)
Potential怪しめる(あやしめる)
Passive怪しまれる(あやしまれる)
Causative怪しませる(あやしませる)
Causative passive怪しませられる・怪しまされる(あやしませられる・あやしまされる)
Conditional (ba)怪しめば(あやしめば)
tara怪しんだら(あやしんだら)
Volitional怪しもう(あやしもう)
polite (mashou)怪しみましょう(あやしみましょう)
Imperative怪しめ(あやしめ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym疑ううたがうNeutralThe most common word for doubting or distrusting; it can also target a possibility, as in 「病気を疑う」. 「怪しむ」 focuses on finding something suspicious or off.
  • Synonym猜疑さいぎWrittenWritten-flavor noun for suspecting ulterior motives behind someone's words or deeds; often as 「猜疑心」. 「怪しむ」 is not limited to people.
  • SynonymいぶかしむWrittenWritten-style word for feeling puzzled or suspicious; rarer than 「怪しむ」 and close to it in meaning, but leans more toward a sense of puzzlement.
  • Synonym不審がるふしんがるNeutralMeans to show suspicion outwardly — 「がる」 marks an outward display — while 「怪しむ」 is about feeling inwardly that something is suspicious.
  • Synonym勘ぐるかんぐるCasualColloquial for wildly guessing at someone's motives or hidden dealings, assuming the worst. 「怪しむ」 does not necessarily involve such malicious speculation.
  • Related疑問視ぎもんしWrittenUsually as 「疑問視する」: to doubt the feasibility or truth of a plan or claim. Written style, common in news reports and commentary.
  • Antonym信じるしんじるNeutralTo believe or trust, as in 「彼を信じる」 — the opposite of the suspicion and distrust of 「怪しむ」.
  • Antonym疑わないNeutralThe negative of 「疑う」: to have no doubts at all, to believe firmly — the opposite of 「怪しむ」's suspicion.

For general doubting, use 「疑う」. Use 「怪しむ」 when something looks suspicious or off, as in 「誰も怪しまない」. For reading ill will into things, 「勘ぐる」; to believe, 「信じる」.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 怪あやしいと思おもう。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents

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