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”) 疑わ (utagawa-) + し (-shi, adjectivizing suffix).^[1][2]

• (Tokyo) うたがわしい (Nakadaka – )^[2]
• (Tokyo) うたがわしい (Heiban – )^[2]
• IPA^(key):

疑(うたが)わしい • (utagawashii) ^{←うたがはしい (utagafasii)?}-i (adverbial 疑(うたが)わしく (utagawashiku))

1. doubtful, uncertain, improbable

   あれが本(ほん)物(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 improbable.

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(う)散(さん)臭(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(ふ)確(かく)実(じつ) (fukakujitsu)
• (questionable, dubious): 如何(いかが)わしい (ikagawashii); 怪(あや)しい (ayashii); 胡(う)散(さん)臭(くさ)い (usankusai); 訝(いぶか)しい (ibukashii)
• (indecent, obscene): 助(すけ)平(べい) (sukebei); 下(げ)品(ひん) (gehin); 卑(ひ)猥(わい) (hiwai); 淫(みだ)ら (midara)
• (shady, sly): いんちき (inchiki); 怪(あや)しげ (ayashige); 胡(う)散(さん)臭(くさ)い (usankusai)

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