1.
suspicious behavior, acting suspiciously
Behavior that appears unnatural, nervous, or suspicious. Used both in serious contexts (police reports, security) and casually to describe someone who looks nervous or guilty.
挙動不審な人物を見かけた。
I spotted a person acting suspiciously.
彼は質問されると挙動不審になった。
He started acting suspiciously when questioned.
挙動不審な男が店の前をうろうろしていたので、警察に通報した。
A man was acting suspiciously, loitering in front of the store, so I called the police.
USAGE:
Used in police and security contexts for describing suspicious persons, but also used casually and humorously. The shortened slang form 挙動る (kyodoru) means "to act nervously/suspiciously" in informal speech.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 挙動不審な人物 (suspicious person)
- 挙動不審になる (to start acting suspiciously)
- 挙動不審で職務質問される (to be stopped and questioned for suspicious behavior)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 不審者: suspicious person — focuses on the person rather than the behavior
- 怪しい: suspicious, fishy — a broader, more casual adjective