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-====== huáiyí: 怀疑 - To Doubt, To Suspect ======
-===== Quick Summary =====
-  * **Keywords:** 怀疑 pinyin, huaiyi Chinese meaning, 怀疑 meaning, how to say doubt in Chinese, how to say suspect in Chinese, 怀疑 vs 相信, Chinese word for suspicion, huáiyí, HSK 4 vocabulary.
-  * **Summary:** Learn the crucial Chinese verb **怀疑 (huáiyí)**, meaning "to doubt" or "to suspect." This page breaks down its meaning, from intellectual skepticism to personal suspicion. Understand the cultural nuances of expressing doubt in China, and master its practical use in daily conversation, from questioning a fact to suspecting someone's motives, with 10 clear example sentences.
-===== Core Meaning =====
-  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** huáiyí
-  * **Part of Speech:** Verb
-  * **HSK Level:** 4
-  * **Concise Definition:** To hold doubt or suspicion about the truthfulness or authenticity of something or someone.
-  * **In a Nutshell:** **怀疑 (huáiyí)** is your go-to word for expressing uncertainty or a lack of belief. It's a versatile term that can describe a neutral, intellectual skepticism (like a scientist doubting a theory) as well as a more negative, personal feeling of mistrust (like suspecting a friend is not telling the truth). Think of it as the mental state of "I'm not so sure about this..."
-===== Character Breakdown =====
-  * **怀 (huái):** This character's left side (忄) is a form of the heart radical (心), indicating it relates to emotions or the mind. The right side provides the sound. The original meaning of 怀 is "to hold in the bosom" or "to harbor in the heart." It signifies holding onto a feeling or thought.
-  * **疑 (yí):** This pictograph originally depicted a person who is hesitant and looking around at a fork in the road, unsure which path to take. It vividly conveys the meaning of uncertainty, hesitation, and doubt.
-When combined, **怀疑 (huáiyí)** literally means "to hold doubt in one's heart." This paints a clear picture of harboring a sense of uncertainty or mistrust internally.
-===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
-In many Western cultures, especially in academic and scientific fields, "healthy skepticism" is highly valued as a component of critical thinking. Actively questioning information is seen as a sign of intelligence and engagement.
-While this is also true in modern China, particularly in business and academia, traditional Chinese culture sometimes places a higher value on harmony and respect for authority (such as teachers, elders, or superiors). In certain social contexts, openly expressing **怀疑 (huáiyí)** towards an elder's statement or a superior's decision can be perceived as disrespectful or challenging.
-Therefore, the key difference is not in the word's meaning, but in the social calculation of when and how to express it. A Western learner might be used to directly saying, "I doubt that's correct." In a Chinese context, it might be more diplomatic to phrase it indirectly, like "Could we perhaps look at this from another angle?" This is changing with younger generations, but the underlying cultural value of maintaining harmony (**和谐, héxié**) is still significant.
-===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
-**怀疑 (huáiyí)** is a common and essential verb used in various situations. Its connotation (neutral or negative) depends entirely on the context.
-  *   **Neutral/Intellectual Doubt:** Used when questioning facts, data, or theories. This is common in academic, scientific, or business discussions.
-    *   //我怀疑这个数据的准确性。// (Wǒ huáiyí zhège shùjù de zhǔnquèxìng.) - "I doubt the accuracy of this data."
-  *   **Personal Suspicion (Negative):** This is the most common use in daily life. It implies you think someone is being dishonest, has bad intentions, or is responsible for something negative.
-    *   //警察怀疑他偷了钱包。// (Jǐngchá huáiyí tā tōu le qiánbāo.) - "The police suspect he stole the wallet."
-  *   **In Relationships:** Expressing **怀疑 (huáiyí)** towards a partner or friend is a serious matter, as it directly implies a lack of trust.
-    *   //你为什么总是怀疑我？// (Nǐ wèishéme zǒngshì huáiyí wǒ?) - "Why do you always suspect me?"
-===== Example Sentences =====
-  * **Example 1:**
-  * 我**怀疑**他说的不是真话。
-  * Pinyin: Wǒ **huáiyí** tā shuō de bùshì zhēn huà.
-  * English: I suspect what he said isn't the truth.
-  * Analysis: A classic example of personal suspicion. The speaker doubts the honesty of another person.
-  * **Example 2:**
-  * 警方**怀疑**这起事故不是意外。
-  * Pinyin: Jǐngfāng **huáiyí** zhè qǐ shìgù bùshì yìwài.
-  * English: The police suspect this incident was not an accident.
-  * Analysis: Here, **怀疑** is used in a formal, investigative context to mean "to suspect."
-  * **Example 3:**
-  * 你是在**怀疑**我的能力吗？
-  * Pinyin: Nǐ shì zài **huáiyí** wǒ de nénglì ma?
-  * English: Are you doubting my ability?
-  * Analysis: This is a rhetorical question, often used defensively or when feeling challenged.
-  * **Example 4:**
-  * 他的理论值得**怀疑**。
-  * Pinyin: Tā de lǐlùn zhídé **huáiyí**.
-  * English: His theory is worthy of doubt (is questionable).
-  * Analysis: A more neutral, academic use. "值得 (zhídé)" means "is worth," so this phrase means "is worth doubting."
-  * **Example 5:**
-  * 我开始**怀疑**自己的决定了。
-  * Pinyin: Wǒ kāishǐ **huáiyí** zìjǐ de juédìng le.
-  * English: I'm starting to doubt my own decision.
-  * Analysis: **怀疑** can also be directed at oneself, expressing self-doubt or second thoughts.
-  * **Example 6:**
-  * 毫无**怀疑**，他是我们队里最好的球员。
-  * Pinyin: Háo wú **huáiyí**, tā shì wǒmen duì lǐ zuì hǎo de qiúyuán.
-  * English: Without a doubt, he is the best player on our team.
-  * Analysis: Shows the common set phrase "毫无怀疑 (háo wú huáiyí)," which means "without any doubt" or "unquestionably." Here, "怀疑" acts as a noun.
-  * **Example 7:**
-  * 医生**怀疑**他得了流感。
-  * Pinyin: Yīshēng **huáiyí** tā dé le liúgǎn.
-  * English: The doctor suspects he has the flu.
-  * Analysis: In a medical context, **怀疑** is used to express a preliminary diagnosis or hypothesis. It's similar to "the doctor suspects a case of..."
-  * **Example 8:**
-  * 不要轻易**怀疑**你的朋友。
-  * Pinyin: Bùyào qīngyì **huáiyí** nǐ de péngyǒu.
-  * English: Don't doubt your friends so easily.
-  * Analysis: This is a piece of advice, highlighting the negative impact of **怀疑** on personal relationships. "轻易 (qīngyì)" means "easily" or "lightly."
-  * **Example 9:**
-  * 我**怀疑**他是否能按时完成任务。
-  * Pinyin: Wǒ **huáiyí** tā shìfǒu néng ànshí wánchéng rènwù.
-  * English: I doubt whether he can complete the task on time.
-  * Analysis: A very common structure where **怀疑** is followed by a "是否 (shìfǒu)" (whether or not) clause to express doubt about an outcome.
-  * **Example 10:**
-  * 他的不在场证明消除了所有人的**怀疑**。
-  * Pinyin: Tā de bù zàichǎng zhèngmíng xiāochú le suǒyǒu rén de **huáiyí**.
-  * English: His alibi eliminated everyone's suspicion.
-  * Analysis: Here, **怀疑** is clearly used as a noun meaning "suspicion" or "doubt." "消除 (xiāochú)" means "to eliminate."
-===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
-  * **怀疑 (huáiyí) vs. 恐怕 (kǒngpà):** This is a very common point of confusion.
-  * **怀疑 (huáiyí)** means you think something is *not* likely or *not* true. → //我怀疑他会来。// (I doubt he will come. = I think he probably won't come).
-  * **恐怕 (kǒngpà)** means "I'm afraid that..." and expresses a worried expectation that something undesirable *will* happen. → //我恐怕他不会来。// (I'm afraid he won't come. = I want him to come, but I worry that he won't).
-  * **怀疑 (huáiyí) vs. 想知道 (xiǎng zhīdào):** Don't use **怀疑** for simple curiosity.
-  * **Incorrect:** //我怀疑现在几点了？// (Wǒ huáiyí xiànzài jǐ diǎn le?)
-  * **Correct:** //我想知道现在几点了？// (Wǒ xiǎng zhīdào xiànzài jǐ diǎn le?) - "I'd like to know what time it is" or "I wonder what time it is."
-  * Use **怀疑** when you have a reason to disbelieve something, not just when you lack information.
-  * **怀疑 (huáiyí) vs. 质疑 (zhìyí):**
-  * **怀疑 (huáiyí)** is an internal feeling or state of mind. It can be kept private.
-  * **[[质疑]] (zhìyí)** is the action of openly *challenging* or *calling into question*. It is more active, direct, and often confrontational. You can feel **怀疑** without ever taking the step to **质疑**.
-===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
-  *   [[相信]] (xiāngxìn) - The direct antonym of **怀疑**. It means "to believe" or "to trust."
-  *   [[可疑]] (kěyí) - An adjective meaning "suspicious" or "questionable." It describes a person or thing that causes the feeling of **怀疑**.
-  *   [[猜]] (cāi) - To guess. It's a simple, informal act of guessing without strong evidence, whereas **怀疑** is based on some reason for disbelief.
-  *   [[猜测]] (cāicè) - To speculate or conjecture. More formal than [[猜]]. It's about forming a potential explanation, while **怀疑** is about disbelieving an existing one.
-  *   [[质疑]] (zhìyí) - To question or to challenge (often publicly). This is the active expression of the internal feeling of **怀疑**.
-  *   [[疑心]] (yíxīn) - A noun meaning "suspicion" or "mistrust," often referring to a person's suspicious nature (e.g., "他疑心很重" - He is a very suspicious person).
-  *   [[疑惑]] (yíhuò) - A noun or verb meaning to feel "perplexed," "confused," or "uncertain." It focuses more on personal confusion rather than suspecting wrongdoing or falsehood.
-  *   [[不信任]] (bù xìnrèn) - "To not trust." A very direct and strong term, often used for people or institutions. It's the state that results from unresolved **怀疑**.