疑わしい

Japanese

Kanji in this term
うたが
Grade: 6

Etymology

Modern form of classical adjective 疑わし (utagawashi). Derived via regular historical processes from the classical attributive form 疑わしき (utagawashiki).[1][2]

From verb 疑う (utagau, to doubt; to suspect), as the 未然形 (mizenkei, incomplete form) of 疑わ (utagawa-) + (-shi, adjectivizing suffix).[1][2]

Pronunciation

Adjective

疑わしい (-i inflection, hiragana うたがわしい, rōmaji utagawashii, historical hiragana うたがはしい)

  1. doubtful, uncertain, improbable
    あれが本物 (ほんもの)かは (うたが)わしい
    Are ga honmono ka wa utagawashī.
    It is doubtful whether that is authentic.
     (かれ) (しょう) () (うたが)わしい
    Kare no shōri wa utagawashī.
    His victory is impropable.
  2. suspicious

Usage notes

  • 疑わしい implies something for which the true nature or quality isn't known, but that may be good or may be bad.
  • 如何 (いかが)わしい (ikagawashii) implies something that cannot be trusted, or that may be immoral.
  •  (あや)しい (ayashii) implies something for which the true nature isn't known, and this uncertainty is a bad thing.
  •  (いぶか)しい (ibukashii) implies something for which the true nature isn't known, and this uncertainty causes one to be curious.
  • 胡散臭 (うさんくさ) (usankusai) implies something suspicious that draws attention.

Inflection

Synonyms

References

  1. 1988, 国語大辞典(新装版) (Kokugo Dai Jiten, Revised Edition) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan
  2. 2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN
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