Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Suspicious" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "suspicious", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
怪しい
あやしい (ayashii)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
不審
ふしん (fushin)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "suspicious" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 怪しい and 不審.
In Japanese, 怪しい (あやしい (ayashii)) is typically associated with "suspicious, dubious, questionable" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Describes something or someone that seems suspicious, unreliable, or not quite right. Can also mean 'uncertain' or 'doubtful'.
On the other hand, 不審 (ふしん (fushin)) maps to "suspicious; doubtful; shady; distrustful" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Refers to being suspicious, doubtful, shady, or causing distrust in actions, appearance, or behavior. Often used as 不審な. A literal translation of "suspicious" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "怪しい"
あの店の食品は少し怪しい。
The food at that store is a bit suspicious.
Bilingual Context for "不審"
夜中に建物の周りをうろつく_______な人を見かけたので、すぐに警察に通報しました。
I saw a suspicious person loitering around the building at night, so I immediately reported it to the police.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "あの店の食品は少し ＿＿＿ 。" (Meaning: "The food at that store is a bit suspicious.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "怪しい" fits here because it means "suspicious, dubious, questionable" in the context of: "The food at that store is a bit suspicious.". "不審" represents "suspicious; doubtful; shady; distrustful".