sceptical、suspicious、doubtful

形容词 “sceptical、suspicious” 和 “doubtful” 都可以用来谈论 “一个人感到怀疑”，但它们的具体含义和用法并不完全相同。下面，我们来重点说一说三个词之间的区别。

先来看形容词 “sceptical, S C E P T I C A L”，它也可以写成 “S K E P T I C A L”。“Sceptical” 形容 “某人不轻信一件事情，半信半疑”。比如：“be sceptical about something（对某事半信半疑）”；“remain sceptical（将信将疑）”。来通过下面的两个例句，巩固对 “sceptical” 的用法的理解。

Examples

Many people were sceptical about the internet at first, but now it's become part of our daily life.

（很多人一开始都对互联网半信半疑，但现在它已经成为了我们日常生活的一部分。）

The company said they would release the game this month, but I remain sceptical – they've postponed it five times already!

（这家公司说他们将在本月发布这款游戏，但我还是将信将疑，因为他们已经推迟了五次了！）

说完了 “sceptical” 表示 “怀疑” 时的用法，我们来分析 “suspicious”。形容词 “suspicious” 的意思是 “由于不信任或认为某人可能做错了事情而起疑心”。常用搭配是 “be suspicious of”。来听一个例句和一段对话，其中 “suspicious” 都表示 “不信任的，怀疑的”。

Examples

Someone in the office ate my sandwich again! I'm suspicious of Amy because I saw her sneaking out of the common room today.

（办公室里又有人吃了我的三明治！我怀疑是艾米干的，因为我今天看到她从休息室里溜了出来。）

A: How did you know it was a prank?

B: Well, you did put on a different voice on the phone, but I became suspicious when you laughed. It sounded like you.

A：你怎么知道这是一场恶作剧的？

B：你在电话里的确假装是别人，但你一笑我就起疑心了。因为笑声听起来很像你。

接着，我们来说一说 “doubtful”。“Doubtful” 可以形容 “因为对一件事情不确定或拿不定主意而疑惑”。常用搭配是 “be doubtful about something”。来听两个用 “be doubtful about something” 表示 “对某事不确定，拿不定主意” 的例句。

Examples

I'm doubtful about the meeting happening next week. Most people will be on leave.

（我不确定下周的会议开不开得成。到时候大多数人都去休假了。）

Peng is doubtful about quitting his job. He doesn't have any offers yet.

（彭拿不定主意是不是应该辞掉工作。他还没拿到任何其它的工作机会。）

上面说到，形容词 “sceptical、suspicious” 和 “doubtful” 都可以用来谈论 “一个人感到怀疑”。不过，在它们当中，只有 “suspicious” 和 “doubtful” 可以谈论 “一件事情或一个人引起疑惑”，而 “sceptical” 却不能。我们来分别讲一下 “suspicious” 和 “doubtful” 的具体含义。

形容词 “suspicious” 可以表示 “事物或人可疑，令人怀疑”。请听三个例句。

Examples

The station was evacuated after a suspicious package was reported.

（在接到有可疑包裹的报告后，车站里的人被疏散了。）

What are you up to? You look suspicious.

（你在打什么算盘？你看起来很可疑。）

The house was a mess when I came home yesterday. Meanwhile, Fluffy was sitting in the corner, looking extremely suspicious – he had a sock on his back.

（昨天我回到家的时候，房子里一片狼藉。与此同时，毛毛就坐在角落里，看上去很可疑，背上还挂了一只袜子。）

最后，形容词 “doubtful” 可以表示 “事情或情况不大可能发生，难说，未必”。常用的句子结构是 “It's doubtful that…”、“It's doubtful whether…” 或者 “It's doubtful if…”。来听两个用 “doubtful” 形容 “事情不大可能发生” 的例句。

Examples

It's doubtful that the shop is open. It's already 9pm.

（这家店不大可能还在营业。已经晚上九点了。）

It's doubtful whether she will be able to bring her best to her football team this season. She was injured a while ago.

（很难保证她这个赛季能为自己的足球队带来巅峰表现。因为她前一阵子受伤了。）

好了，有关形容词 “sceptical、suspicious” 和 “doubtful” 的异同，就讲到这里。记住： “sceptical” 强调 “不轻信一件事情，半信半疑”；“suspicious” 既可以表示 “由于认为某人做错事情而怀疑”，也可以表示 “可疑”；“doubtful” 既可以表示 “某人不确定”，也可以形容 “事情或情况不大可能发生”。