keyi: 可疑 - Suspicious, Questionable, Doubtful

• Keywords: kěyí, keyi, 可疑, suspicious in Chinese, questionable in Chinese, how to say doubtful in Chinese, Chinese word for suspicious, 可疑 meaning, 怀疑 vs 可疑, Chinese grammar, HSK 5
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word kěyí (可疑), which means “suspicious,” “questionable,” or “doubtful.” This guide breaks down its meaning, cultural context, and practical use in modern China. Discover how to describe a suspicious person, a questionable story, or a situation that just doesn't feel right, and understand the critical difference between the adjective kěyí and the verb “to suspect” (huáiyí). Perfect for HSK 5 students and anyone looking to add nuance to their Mandarin vocabulary.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): kěyí
• Part of Speech: Adjective
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: Arousing or deserving of suspicion; questionable or doubtful.
• In a Nutshell: 可疑 (kěyí) is the primary adjective you use in Chinese when something seems “off” and makes you feel suspicious. It captures the feeling that something isn't quite right and warrants caution or further investigation. It can be used to describe people, objects, actions, sounds, or even abstract ideas like a motive or an explanation. Think of it as a label you apply to anything that raises a red flag in your mind.

• 可 (kě): This character most commonly means “can,” “able to,” or acts as a suffix similar to “-able” or “-worthy.” It signifies potential or suitability.
• 疑 (yí): This character means “to doubt,” “to suspect,” or “suspicion.” It represents a state of uncertainty or mistrust.
• When combined, 可疑 (kěyí) literally translates to “doubt-able” or “worthy of suspicion.” This construction is very logical and makes the meaning easy to remember: something has the quality (可) of making you feel doubt (疑).

While suspicion is a universal human feeling, the use of 可疑 (kěyí) in China is straightforward and practical, often tied to social order and safety. You will frequently see it on public signs and in announcements, such as “发现可疑物品，请立即报警” (fāxiàn kěyí wùpǐn, qǐng lìjí bàojǐng), meaning “If you discover a suspicious item, please report it to the police immediately.” In Western culture, a word like “shady” might be used to describe a suspicious person, which carries a strong informal and negative connotation of moral dubiousness. 可疑 (kěyí) is a more neutral and broader term. While it can certainly describe a “shady” person, it can also describe a situation that is merely confusing or unexpected. For instance, an unexpected result in a scientific experiment could be described as 可疑, meaning it's “questionable” and requires re-examination, without implying any moral wrongdoing. It focuses more on the objective quality of arousing doubt rather than just a negative moral judgment.

可疑 (kěyí) is a versatile word used in both formal and informal contexts.

• Formal/Official Use: In the news, police reports, and official notices, 可疑 is used to describe potential threats or criminal elements.
  • e.g., 可疑人员 (kěyí rényuán - suspicious personnel), 可疑包裹 (kěyí bāoguǒ - suspicious package).
• Everyday Conversation: In daily life, it's used to express personal doubt or gut feelings about a wide range of things.
  • e.g., Describing a person acting strangely on the subway, a story from a friend that sounds unbelievable, or a business proposal that seems too good to be true.
• Connotation: The connotation is generally neutral to negative. It points out an inconsistency or a potential problem. Calling something 可疑 means you are cautious and not ready to accept it at face value. It's never a compliment.

• Example 1:
  • 警察正在调查一个形迹可疑的男人。
  • Pinyin: Jǐngchá zhèngzài diàochá yīgè xíngjì kěyí de nánrén.
  • English: The police are investigating a man whose behavior is suspicious.
  • Analysis: Here, 可疑 modifies the man's actions (形迹). This is a common and slightly formal way to describe someone acting suspiciously.
• Example 2:
  • 我在门口发现了一个可疑的包裹。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zài ménkǒu fāxiànle yīgè kěyí de bāoguǒ.
  • English: I found a suspicious package at the door.
  • Analysis: This is a very practical and common usage, often seen in public safety contexts. 可疑 directly describes the noun “package.”
• Example 3:
  • 他不接电话，这很可疑。
  • Pinyin: Tā bù jiē diànhuà, zhè hěn kěyí.
  • English: He's not answering his phone, which is very suspicious.
  • Analysis: This shows how 可疑 can be used to describe an entire situation or fact. The subject is “这” (this), referring to the act of him not answering.
• Example 4:
  • 你觉得他的解释听起来可疑吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ juédé tā de jiěshì tīng qǐlái kěyí ma?
  • English: Do you think his explanation sounds suspicious?
  • Analysis: This sentence uses 可疑 to question the validity of an explanation or story. The phrase “听起来” (tīng qǐlái - sounds like) is often paired with it.
• Example 5:
  • 昨晚我听到了一个可疑的声音。
  • Pinyin: Zuówǎn wǒ tīngdàole yīgè kěyí de shēngyīn.
  • English: I heard a suspicious noise last night.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates that 可疑 can be applied to sensory input, not just visual actions or objects.
• Example 6:
  • 这家公司的财务报表非常可疑。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī de cáiwù bàobiǎo fēicháng kěyí.
  • English: This company's financial statements are very questionable.
  • Analysis: A good example of 可疑 being used in a business or formal context to mean “questionable” or “raising doubts.”
• Example 7:
  • 他的动机有点儿可疑，我不完全相信他。
  • Pinyin: Tā de dòngjī yǒudiǎnr kěyí, wǒ bù wánquán xiāngxìn tā.
  • English: His motive is a bit suspicious; I don't completely trust him.
  • Analysis: Here, 可疑 describes an abstract concept, “motive” (动机). This highlights its versatility.
• Example 8:
  • 没有任何可疑之处，一切正常。
  • Pinyin: Méiyǒu rènhé kěyí zhī chù, yīqiè zhèngcháng.
  • English: There's nothing suspicious at all, everything is normal.
  • Analysis: This sentence shows the negative form, emphasizing the absence of anything out of the ordinary. “之处” (zhī chù) means “place” or “point.”
• Example 9:
  • 看到可疑人员，请保持距离并报警。
  • Pinyin: Kàn dào kěyí rényuán, qǐng bǎochí jùlí bìng bàojǐng.
  • English: If you see suspicious personnel, please maintain distance and call the police.
  • Analysis: This is typical language used in public safety announcements, showing its formal application.
• Example 10:
  • 他突然对我这么好，我感觉很可疑。
  • Pinyin: Tā túrán duì wǒ zhème hǎo, wǒ gǎnjué hěn kěyí.
  • English: He's suddenly being so nice to me, I feel it's very suspicious.
  • Analysis: This informal example shows how 可疑 can be used to describe a change in behavior that makes one question the underlying reason.

The most common mistake English speakers make is confusing the adjective 可疑 (kěyí) with the verb 怀疑 (huáiyí).

• 可疑 (kěyí) is an adjective. It describes a noun (person, thing, situation) as being suspicious.
• 怀疑 (huáiyí) is a verb. It is the action of suspecting or doubting something.

Think of it like “suspicious” (adjective) vs. “to suspect” (verb) in English.

• CORRECT: 那个情况很可疑。 (Nàge qíngkuàng hěn kěyí.) - That situation is very suspicious.
• CORRECT: 我怀疑那个情况。 (Wǒ huáiyí nàge qíngkuàng.) - I suspect that situation.
• INCORRECT: 我可疑他。 (Wǒ kěyí tā.)
  • Why it's wrong: This is like saying “I suspicious him” in English. You are trying to use an adjective as a verb. The correct sentence would be “我怀疑他” (Wǒ huáiyí tā - I suspect him) or “他很可疑” (Tā hěn kěyí - He is suspicious).

• 怀疑 (huáiyí) - The verb “to suspect” or “to doubt.” This is the action that a 可疑 person or thing causes you to perform.
• 嫌疑 (xiányí) - A formal noun for “suspicion,” almost exclusively used in legal or police contexts. For example, 嫌疑人 (xiányí rén) is a “criminal suspect.”
• 疑问 (yíwèn) - A noun meaning “a doubt,” “a question,” or “a query.” When you see something 可疑, you might have many 疑问.
• 奇怪 (qíguài) - An adjective meaning “strange” or “weird.” Something that is 奇怪 might also be 可疑, but not always. A weird hat might be 奇怪, but it's probably not 可疑. 可疑 implies a stronger sense of potential deception or danger.
• 鬼鬼祟祟 (guǐguǐsuìsuì) - An idiom (chengyu) describing someone acting in a “sneaky,” “furtive,” or “stealthy” manner. This type of behavior is, by definition, very 可疑.
• 不解 (bùjiě) - A verb meaning “to not understand” or “to be puzzled.” This is often the feeling you have before you label something as 可疑.
• 难以置信 (nányǐ zhìxìn) - An idiom meaning “hard to believe.” A story that is 难以置信 is often also 可疑.