いかがわしい

い

か

が

わ

し

い

Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

i-adjective

suspicious; dubious; unreliable

usually written using kana alone

Describes something or someone that seems untrustworthy, shady, or not quite right. Often used for people, stories, or offers that feel off.

あの男おとこはどうもいかがわしい。
That man seems somehow suspicious.

いかがわしい

儲もう

け

話ばなし

に

は

手て

を

出だ

す

な

。

Don't get involved in dubious money-making schemes.

2

i-adjective

indecent; unseemly; lewd

usually written using kana alone

Refers to behavior, speech, or content that is morally questionable, sexually suggestive, or improper. Often used for risqué jokes, shady businesses, or inappropriate conduct.

彼かれはいかがわしい冗じょう談だんばかり言いう。
He always tells indecent jokes.
その店みせはいかがわしい商しょう品ひんを扱あつかっているらしい。
That shop seems to deal in unseemly merchandise.

Written forms

いかがわしいUsage98%
Usually written in kana; the kanji form 如何わしい is rare and may not be recognized by many readers.
如何いかがわしいUsage2%
Kanji form is seldom used; the kana spelling is strongly preferred in modern Japanese.

Kanji

如likeness, like, such as
何what

Similar words

怪あやしい
怪しい also means 'suspicious' but is broader, covering mysterious, doubtful, or supernatural nuances. いかがわしい focuses more on moral shadiness or indecency.
胡う散さん臭くさい
胡散臭い is a stronger, more colloquial word for 'suspicious' or 'fishy,' often implying a gut feeling that something is off. いかがわしい can carry a similar nuance but also extends to indecency.

Etymology

Derived from 如何 (いかが, 'how') + わしい (adjectival suffix expressing a negative quality). The combination originally meant 'questionable' or 'doubtful,' later developing the sense of 'indecent.'