Translation guide
Describes a person, object, or situation that appears untrustworthy, questionable, or potentially dangerous. Japanese offers several adjectives and phrases that capture different nuances of suspicion based on appearance.
彼は怪しい。
He looks suspicious.
そのメールは怪しい。
That email seems suspicious.
To say that someone's appearance or demeanor makes them seem suspicious, possibly involved in something dishonest or criminal.
The most common and versatile word for 'suspicious-looking'. Can describe people, objects, or situations. Often implies a gut feeling that something is off.
あの人はなんだか怪しい。
That person looks kind of suspicious.
怪しい男が家の前をうろうろしている。
A suspicious-looking man is loitering in front of the house.
Stronger than 怪しい, implies a person or thing seems fishy, shady, or not to be trusted. Often used for people who give off a dishonest vibe.
あのセールスマンは胡散臭い。
That salesman looks really shady.
Suggests something is dubious, questionable, or possibly indecent. Often used for businesses, offers, or people involved in shady dealings.
いかがわしい店が並ぶ通り。
A street lined with suspicious-looking shops.
Literally 'suspicious behavior', used to describe someone acting nervously or furtively, as if they are up to something. Often used in police or security contexts.
挙動不審な人物が通報された。
A person acting suspiciously was reported.
To express that something (like a package, a deal, or a situation) appears suspicious or potentially dangerous.
Again the go-to word. Works for objects, emails, offers, etc. that seem suspicious.
そのメールは怪しいから開かないほうがいい。
That email looks suspicious, so you shouldn't open it.
怪しい荷物が駅に置いてあった。
A suspicious-looking package was left at the station.
More formal than 怪しい, often used in official warnings or reports. Means 'suspicious' or 'questionable'.
不審な物を見つけたら警察に連絡してください。
If you find a suspicious object, please contact the police.
To convey that a location gives off a suspicious or unsettling vibe, possibly due to darkness, isolation, or strange activity.
Can describe a place that feels suspicious or eerie. Context will clarify whether it's about danger or supernatural unease.
夜の公園はなんだか怪しい雰囲気だ。
The park at night has a kind of suspicious atmosphere.
Means 'eerie' or 'uncanny'. Focuses more on a creepy, unsettling feeling rather than criminal suspicion.
その廃墟は不気味で、誰も近づかない。
That ruin is eerie and no one goes near it.
怪しい is the most general and can be used for people, things, and situations. 胡散臭い (or うさんくさい) is more colloquial and implies a stronger sense of distrust, often used for people or deals. 不審 is more formal and often appears in official contexts like police reports or warnings.
怪しい人物
suspicious-looking person (general)
胡散臭いセールスマン
shady salesman (strong distrust)
不審な荷物
suspicious package (formal/official)
Do not directly translate 'suspicious-looking' as 疑わしい見た目 (utagawashii mita me). While grammatically possible, it sounds unnatural. Use the adjectives above instead.
疑わしい見た目
suspicious-looking (literal, unnatural)
Casual, implies something is fishy or shady. Often used for deals, offers, or situations that seem too good to be true.
その話はちょっとうさんくさいね。
That story sounds a bit fishy.