Japanese word

疑う

Pronunciation

Romajiutagau

Meaning

  • verbdoubt

Example

私は彼の話を疑います。watashi wa kare no hanashi o utaga i ma su

I doubt his story.

Illustration for 疑う (doubt)

More examples

結果を見て、私は自分の目を疑いました。kek ka o mi te watashi wa ji bun no me o utaga i ma shi ta

When I saw the result, I doubted my own eyes.

Core concept

Treats a person, statement, or situation as not yet trustworthy or certain, leaving its truth or reliability open to question.

Common phrases

  • 話を疑うhanashi o utaga u

    doubt the story

  • 自分の目を疑うji bun no me o utaga u

    doubt one's own eyes

  • 相手を疑うai te o utaga u

    suspect the other person

Similar words

怪しむayashimu: To feel that a person or situation may not be reliable or innocent.
疑問視するgimonshisuru: To consider a statement or situation uncertain or open to question.
勘ぐるkanguru: To suspect hidden motives or meanings without clear proof.

Definition in Japanese

人や発言などを確かなもの、信用できるものとは認めず、その真偽や信頼性を問題にする。hito ya hatsu gen na do o tashi ka na mo no shin yō de ki ru mo no to wa mito me zu so no shin gi ya shin rai sei o mon dai ni su ru

Word origin

The native Japanese verb 疑う (utagau, "doubt") has the older written form 疑ふ (utagafu, "doubt"); its related noun 疑い (utagai, "doubt") helps show the shared meaning.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Japanese, 疑う (utagau) can describe doubting a statement or suspecting a person, so the surrounding context determines whether English uses "doubt" or "suspect".

Other meanings

  • suspectverb
  • distrustverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word