Readings: ギ (Onyomi), うたが.う (Kunyomi)
Meaning: doubt, suspicion, question
The kanji 疑 is a phono-semantic compound. It combines 疋 (shǐ), depicting a “leg” or “foot,” and the phonetic component 矣 (yǐ), which originally represented a “person with bound feet” or “a person walking with difficulty,” and also conveys the idea of “hesitation” or “uncertainty.” Together, these elements suggest “hesitation” or “uncertainty in movement,” leading to the meaning of “doubt” or “suspicion.”
View JLPT N3 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 疑 is written with 14 strokes. Pay attention to the complex structure, especially the radical 疋 and the top part, ensuring each stroke flows correctly for proper form.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 疋 |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 14 |
| JLPT Level | N3 |
| Grade | Unassigned |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ギ (gi)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- うたが.う (utaga.u)
Common Words Using 疑
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 疑問 | ぎもん | doubt, question |
| 疑惑 | ぎわく | doubt, suspicion, misgivings |
| 容疑者 | ようぎしゃ | suspect (person) |
| 半信半疑 | はんしんはんぎ | half-belief, half-doubt; skeptical |
| 質疑応答 | しつぎおうとう | question and answer session |
| 嫌疑 | けんぎ | suspicion, charge |
| 疑念 | ぎねん | doubt, misgivings |
| 疑心 | ぎしん | suspicion, distrust |
| 懐疑的 | かいぎてき | skeptical |
| 疑義 | ぎぎ | doubt, question, point in question |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 疑う | うたがう | to doubt, to suspect, to distrust |
| 疑わしい | うたがわしい | doubtful, suspicious, questionable |
| 疑い | うたがい | doubt, suspicion (noun) |
| 人を疑う | ひとをうたがう | to doubt someone |
| 目を疑う | めをうたがう | to doubt one’s eyes |
| 耳を疑う | みみをうたがう | to doubt one’s ears |
| 疑う余地がない | うたがうよちがない | no room for doubt |
| 疑ってかかる | うたがってかかる | to approach with suspicion |
| 疑われる | うたがわれる | to be doubted, to be suspected |
| 疑わせる | うたがわせる | to make someone doubt/suspect |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 彼は私の言葉を疑った。
Kana: かれはわたしのことばをうたがった。
Romaji: Kare wa watashi no kotoba o utagatta.
English: He doubted my words.
Japanese: そのニュースは疑わしい。
Kana: そのニュースはうたがわしい。
Romaji: Sono nyūsu wa utagawashii.
English: That news is doubtful.
Japanese: 彼には何の疑いもなかった。
Kana: かれにはなんのうたがいもなかった。
Romaji: Kare ni wa nan no utagai mo nakatta.
English: He had no doubts at all.
Japanese: 警察は容疑者を逮捕した。
Kana: けいさつはようぎしゃをたいほした。
Romaji: Keisatsu wa yōgisha o taiho shita.
English: The police arrested the suspect.
Japanese: 彼女は疑問に思ったことをすぐに質問した。
Kana: かのじょはぎもんに思ったことをすぐにしつもんした。
Romaji: Kanojo wa gimonn ni omotta koto o sugu ni shitsumon shita.
English: She immediately asked about what she doubted.
Japanese: 彼の話に半信半疑だった。
Kana: かれのはなしにはんしんはんぎだった。
Romaji: Kare no hanashi ni hanshin-hangi datta.
English: I was half in doubt about his story.
Japanese: その研究結果には疑念が残る。
Kana: そのけんきゅうけっかにはぎねんがのこる。
Romaji: Sono kenkyū kekka ni wa ginen ga nokoru.
English: Doubts remain about the results of that research.
Japanese: 子供たちはサンタクロースの存在を疑い始めた。
Kana: こどもたちはサンタクロースのそんざいをうたがいはじめた。
Romaji: Kodomotachi wa Santakurōsu no sonzai o utagai hajimeta.
English: The children began to doubt the existence of Santa Claus.
Japanese: 彼の潔白は疑う余地がない。
Kana: かれのけっぱくはうたがうよちがない。
Romaji: Kare no keppaku wa utagau yochi ga nai.
English: His innocence is beyond doubt.
Japanese: その証拠は彼女の無実を疑わせるものではなかった。
Kana: そのしょうこはかのじょのむじつをうたがわせるものではなかった。
Romaji: Sono shōko wa kanojo no mujitsu o utagawaseru mono de wa nakatta.
English: That evidence did not make her innocence doubtful.
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