1.
doubt; suspicion; misgiving
A feeling of uncertainty or distrust, particularly about someone's motives, honesty, or the truth of a situation. More formal and weighty than ordinary doubt.
彼の説明に疑念を抱いた。
I harbored doubts about his explanation.
疑念が晴れなかった。
My doubts were not cleared.
国民の間に政府への疑念が広がっている。
Suspicion toward the government is spreading among the people.
USAGE:
A formal, somewhat literary word. More serious and weighty than 疑問 (question/doubt). Often implies lingering distrust that is difficult to resolve.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 疑念を抱く (harbor doubts)
- 疑念が生じる (doubts arise)
- 疑念が晴れる (doubts are cleared)
- 疑念を払拭する (dispel doubts)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 疑問: question, doubt — lighter; often just an intellectual question rather than distrust
- 不信: distrust — focuses specifically on lack of trust in a person or institution
- 懐疑: skepticism — philosophical or systematic doubt