疑わしい

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-) + し (-shi, adjectivizing suffix).[1][2]

• Kun’yomi
  • (Tokyo) うたがわし​い [ùtágáwáshíꜜì] (Nakadaka – [5])[2]
  • (Tokyo) うたがわしい [ùtágáwáshíí] (Heiban – [0])[2]
  • IPA^(key): [ɯ̟ᵝta̠ɡa̠ɰᵝa̠ɕiː]

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)かは疑 (うたが)わしい。

   Are ga honmono ka wa utagawashī.

   It is doubtful whether that is authentic.

   彼 (かれ)の勝 (しょう)利 (り)は疑 (うたが)わしい。

   Kare no shōri wa utagawashī.

   His victory is impropable.

2. suspicious

• 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.
• 怪 (あや)しい (ayashii) implies something for which the true nature isn't known, and this uncertainty is a bad thing.
• 訝 (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)い (usankusai) implies something suspicious that draws attention.

• (unreliable, uncertain): 信用できない: 信 (しん)用 (よう) (shin'yō) (“confidence, faith”) + 出 (で)来 (き)ない (dekinai) (“cannot”); 不確実 (ふかくじつ) (fukakujitsu)
• (questionable, dubious): 如何 (いかが)わしい (ikagawashii); 怪 (あや)しい (ayashii); 胡散臭 (うさんくさ)い (usankusai); 訝 (いぶか)しい (ibukashii)
• (indecent, obscene): 助平 (すけべい) (sukebei); 下 (げ)品 (ひん) (gehin); 卑猥 (ひわい) (hiwai); 淫 (みだ)ら (midara)
• (shady, sly): いんちき (inchiki); 怪 (あや)しげ (ayashige); 胡散臭 (うさんくさ)い (usankusai)

• 疑 (うたが)う (utagau): to doubt, to suspect