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March 24, 2026
嫌疑xiányí(xian2yi2)
The term 嫌疑 (xiányí) refers to the state of suspicion or doubt about someone's involvement in a wrongdoing or crime. It is often used in legal or investigative contexts, indicating that someone is believed to potentially have committed an offense, although they have not been proven guilty.
Frequency#5120DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese society, the concept of suspicion can carry significant social stigma, often leading to public scrutiny and gossip, particularly in cases involving crime or scandals. The legal system also heavily emphasizes the presumption of innocence, making the term relevant in discussions about justice.
Memory Tip
Imagine a detective who has 'suspicions' about a suspect. The character 嫌 combines the radical for 'to dislike' (嫌) with 'to doubt' (疑), visualizing a detective feeling uneasy about a suspect's innocence. The sound 'xian' resembles the word 'suspicion', linking it to the idea of being wary.
Meanings of 嫌疑
xiányí(xian2yi2)
1suspicion
2to have suspicions
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 嫌疑
嫌疑Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#5120Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 嫌疑
Podcast: 嫌疑
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AI Study Notes for 嫌疑
Quick Contrast
嫌疑 (xiányí) vs 嫌恶 (xiánwù) — 嫌疑 refers to suspicion of wrongdoing, while 嫌恶 denotes a strong dislike or aversion.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a detective who has 'suspicions' about a suspect. The character 嫌 combines the radical for 'to dislike' (嫌) with 'to doubt' (疑), visualizing a detective feeling uneasy about a suspect's innocence. The sound 'xian' resembles the word 'suspicion', linking it to the idea of being wary.
Usage Notes
Be cautious not to confuse 嫌疑 with similar-sounding words like 嫌弃 (xiánqì), which means to dislike or reject someone. This term is more formal and is primarily used in legal discussions or serious inquiries, making it less common in everyday conversation. Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing both characters to avoid misunderstandings.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 6 word, 嫌疑 connects with other advanced vocabulary related to law and ethics. Students should focus on how this word interacts with terms like 证据 (zhèngjù, evidence) and 犯罪 (fànzuì, crime) to build a more comprehensive understanding of legal discussions in Mandarin.
Cultural Note
In Chinese society, the concept of suspicion can carry significant social stigma, often leading to public scrutiny and gossip, particularly in cases involving crime or scandals. The legal system also heavily emphasizes the presumption of innocence, making the term relevant in discussions about justice.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 嫌疑 with 嫌弃 (xiánqì), leading to sentences like '我对他的嫌弃' (Wǒ duì tā de xiányí), which should be corrected to '我对他的嫌疑' (Wǒ duì tā de xiányí) for clarity in context.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 嫌疑
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Grammar Patterns of 嫌疑
嫌疑 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
对某些有不忠____的官员已经提起了诉讼。
Charges had already been made against certain officials suspected of disloyalty.
Example Sentences for 嫌疑 (6)
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1
对某些有不忠嫌疑的官员已经提起了诉讼。
duì mǒu xiē yǒu bù zhōng xián yí de guān yuán yǐ jīng tí qǐ le sù sòng。
Charges had already been made against certain officials suspected of disloyalty.
2
迄今为止，我们掌握的能够指证两个嫌疑犯的证据少得可怜。
qì jīn wéi zhǐ， ， wǒ mén zhǎng wò de néng gòu zhǐ zhèng liǎng gè xián yí fàn de zhèng jù shǎo dé kě。
So far, what scanty evidence we have points to two suspects.
3
那两具尸体被辨认出原是两名贩毒嫌疑犯。
nà liǎng jù shī tǐ bèi biàn rèn chū yuán shì liǎng míng fàn dú xián yí fàn。
The bodies were identified as those of two suspected drug dealers.
4
调查人员说有近10万美元汇入了嫌疑人的银行账户。
tiáo chá rén yuán shuō yǒu jìn10 10 wàn měi yuán huì rù le xián yí rén de yín háng zhàng。
Investigators say nearly $100,000 was wired into the suspect's bank accounts.
In Chinese society, the concept of suspicion can carry significant social stigma, often leading to public scrutiny and gossip, particularly in cases involving crime or scandals. The legal system also heavily emphasizes the presumption of innocence, making the term relevant in discussions about justice.
Frequently Asked Questions about 嫌疑
You can say, '他被警方认为有嫌疑' (Tā bèi jǐngfāng rènwéi yǒu xiányí), meaning 'He is considered a suspect by the police.'
Yes, 嫌疑 usually carries a negative connotation, implying doubt or mistrust about someone's actions.
While primarily associated with legal contexts, 嫌疑 can also relate to personal relationships where trust is questioned.
