Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use this phrase when you feel something isn't quite right or you're skeptical about a situation or statement.
- Means: To harbor doubts or feel a sense of uncertainty about something.
- Used in: Professional critiques, academic discussions, or personal suspicions about someone's behavior.
- Don't confuse: With simply 'asking a question' ({質問|しつもん}する); this is about the internal feeling.
Explicação no seu nível:
Significado
To feel uncertainty or question something.
Contexto cultural
In Japanese companies, 'having a doubt' is often expressed indirectly to maintain 'Kuki o yomu' (reading the air). Instead of saying 'I doubt this,' one might say 'I'd like to confirm one point...' Critical thinking is often taught through the lens of '{疑問|ぎもん}を{持|も}つ}'. Students are encouraged to 'hold doubts' about established theories to foster innovation. News anchors often use this phrase to represent the public's skepticism toward government policies without taking a personal stance. On platforms like X (Twitter), users use the hashtag #疑問 (Gimon) to flag posts or news that seem suspicious or illogical.
Softening the Blow
If you need to use this with a boss, add '{少|すこ}し' (a little) or '{若干|じゃっかん}' (slightly) to make it sound less like a direct attack.
Not for Simple Questions
Never use this when you just didn't hear what someone said. Use 'もう{一度|いちど}{言|い}ってください' instead.
Softening the Blow
If you need to use this with a boss, add '{少|すこ}し' (a little) or '{若干|じゃっかん}' (slightly) to make it sound less like a direct attack.
Not for Simple Questions
Never use this when you just didn't hear what someone said. Use 'もう{一度|いちど}{言|い}ってください' instead.
Writing Essays
This is a 'power phrase' for JLPT N3/N2 essays. It shows you can analyze a topic critically.
Teste-se
Fill in the blank with the correct particle and verb form.
{彼|かれ}の{言|い}うこと（ ）{疑問|ぎもん}（ ）{持|も}っています。
The target of doubt is marked with 'ni', and the object 'gimon' is marked with 'o'.
Which situation is the most natural for using '{疑問|ぎもん}を{持|も}つ'?
Choose the best context:
This phrase expresses skepticism or doubt about the truth of something.
Complete the dialogue.
A: {新|あたら}しい{先生|せんせい}の{教|おし}え{方|かた}、どう？ B: うーん、ちょっと（ ）。
B is expressing skepticism about the teacher's method, which fits '{疑問|ぎもん}を{持|も}つ'.
Match the phrase variation to the correct register.
1. {疑問|ぎもん}を{抱|いだ}く / 2. {疑問|ぎもん}を{持|も}つ / 3. {怪|あや}しいと{思|おも}う
'{抱|いだ}く' is literary/formal, '{持|も}つ' is standard, and '{怪|あや}しい' is casual.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Recursos visuais
Question vs. Doubt
Banco de exercicios
5 exercicios{彼|かれ}の{言|い}うこと（ ）{疑問|ぎもん}（ ）{持|も}っています。
The target of doubt is marked with 'ni', and the object 'gimon' is marked with 'o'.
Choose the best context:
This phrase expresses skepticism or doubt about the truth of something.
A: {新|あたら}しい{先生|せんせい}の{教|おし}え{方|かた}、どう？ B: うーん、ちょっと（ ）。
B is expressing skepticism about the teacher's method, which fits '{疑問|ぎもん}を{持|も}つ'.
1. {疑問|ぎもん}を{抱|いだ}く / 2. {疑問|ぎもん}を{持|も}つ / 3. {怪|あや}しいと{思|おも}う
'{抱|いだ}く' is literary/formal, '{持|も}つ' is standard, and '{怪|あや}しい' is casual.
🎉 Pontuação: /5
Perguntas frequentes
5 perguntasIt is neutral. To make it polite, say '{疑問|ぎもん}を{持|も}ちます'. To make it very formal, use '{疑問|ぎもん}を{抱|いだ}いております'.
No, that sounds like you are doubting the teacher's lesson. Use '{質問|しつもん}があります'.
'{疑問|ぎもん}' is more intellectual/logical. '{疑|うたが}い' is more emotional/suspicious.
No, that is not a phrase. You might be thinking of '{二|に}の{句|く}が{継|つ}げない' or something else. Stick to '{持|も}つ'.
Use '{疑問|ぎもん}の{余地|よち}がない' (There is no room for doubt) or '{疑問|ぎもん}は持っていません'.
Frases relacionadas
{疑問|ぎもん}を{抱|いだ}く
similarTo harbor a doubt.
{疑問|ぎもん}を{呈|てい}する
specialized formTo raise/voice a doubt.
{疑|うたが}う
synonymTo doubt/suspect.
{首|くび}をかしげる
similarTo tilt one's head in doubt.
{不信感|ふしんかん}を{抱|いだ}く
builds onTo harbor a sense of distrust.
Onde usar
Job Interview
Interviewer: {弊社|へいしゃ}の{残業|ざんぎょう}はゼロです。
Candidate (Internal thought): （そんなことが{可能|かのう}なのだろうか。その{言葉|ことば}に{疑問|ぎもん}を{持|も}つ…）
Scientific Research
Professor: この{実験|じっけん}{結果|けっか}は{完璧|かんぺき}だ。
Student: {先生|せんせい}、このデータに{少|すこ}し{疑問|ぎもん}を{持|も}っています。
Relationship Talk
Friend A: {彼|かれ}、{最近|さいきん}ずっと{仕事|しごと}だって{言|い}ってるよ。
Friend B: うーん、その{理由|りゆう}に{疑問|ぎもん}を{持|も}ち{始|はじ}めたんだよね。
Shopping / Fake Reviews
Shopper: この{商品|しょうひん}、レビューが{全部|ぜんぶ}星５つだ。
Partner: それは{疑問|ぎもん}を{持|も}ったほうがいいよ。サクラかもしれない。
School / Critical Thinking
Teacher: 教科書に{書|か}いてあることを{信|しん}じなさい。
Student: でも、この{説明|せつめい}には{疑問|ぎもん}を{持|も}ちます。
News Analysis
Commentator: {景気|けいき}は{回復|かいふく}していると{政府|せいふ}は{言|い}っています。
Host: しかし、多くの{市民|しみん}はその{実感|じっかん}に{疑問|ぎもん}を{持|も}っています。
Memorize
Mnemônico
Think of 'Gimon' as a 'Gimmick'—if something feels like a gimmick, you 'hold' (motsu) a doubt about it.
Associação visual
Imagine yourself holding a giant, glowing question mark (?) in your hands like a heavy crystal ball. You are looking at it closely, trying to see the truth inside.
Rhyme
Gimon o motsu, don't just trust the gloss!
Story
You are at a magic show. The magician makes a car disappear. Instead of clapping, you 'hold a question' (疑問を持つ) in your hands: 'Where did the car go?' You carry this question home, unable to let it go.
In Other Languages
In English, we say 'to have doubts.' In Chinese, it's '产生疑问' (to produce doubts). The Japanese 'motsu' (to hold) makes it feel more like a possession you are keeping.
Word Web
Desafio
Write down three things you see in the news today that make you feel {疑問|ぎもん}を{持|も}つ. Use the pattern '[News item] に {疑問|ぎもん}を{持|も}つ'.
Review this phrase whenever you feel skeptical about a social media post or an advertisement.
Pronúncia
The 'gi' is like 'gear', and 'mon' is like 'monk' but with a nasal 'n'.
The 'tsu' is like the end of 'cats'.
Espectro de formalidade
{氏|し}の{説明|せつめい}の{妥当性|だとうせい}に{疑問|ぎもん}を{抱|いだ}いております。 (Discussing a colleague's excuse)
{彼|かれ}の{説明|せつめい}に{疑問|ぎもん}を{持|も}っています。 (Discussing a colleague's excuse)
{彼|かれ}の{話|はなし}、ちょっと{疑問|ぎもん}なんだよね。 (Discussing a colleague's excuse)
あいつの{話|はなし}、マジで{怪|あや}しくね？ (Discussing a colleague's excuse)
The word '{疑問|ぎもん}' (Gimon) consists of '{疑|ぎ}' (doubt/suspect) and '{問|もん}' (question/inquiry). It entered the Japanese lexicon through Buddhist texts and later classical Chinese literature, where it referred to points of doctrine that required further investigation. The verb '{持|も}つ' (Motsu) is a native Japanese (Yamato Kotoba) verb meaning to hold in one's hand. The combination of a Chinese-origin noun and a native verb is a classic feature of the Japanese language, blending abstract concepts with physical actions.
Curiosidade
The kanji '{疑|ぎ}' originally depicted a person standing at a crossroads, looking around and wondering which way to go.
Notas culturais
In Japanese companies, 'having a doubt' is often expressed indirectly to maintain 'Kuki o yomu' (reading the air). Instead of saying 'I doubt this,' one might say 'I'd like to confirm one point...'
“{一|ひと}つ{確認|かくにん}させていただきたいのですが…。”
Critical thinking is often taught through the lens of '{疑問|ぎもん}を{持|も}つ}'. Students are encouraged to 'hold doubts' about established theories to foster innovation.
“{常識|じょうしき}に{疑問|ぎもん}を{持|も}ちなさい。”
News anchors often use this phrase to represent the public's skepticism toward government policies without taking a personal stance.
“{国民|こくみん}からは{疑問|ぎもん}を{持|も}つ{声|こえ}が{多|おお}く{聞|き}かれます。”
On platforms like X (Twitter), users use the hashtag #疑問 (Gimon) to flag posts or news that seem suspicious or illogical.
“このニュースの{数字|すうじ}、{疑問|ぎもん}を{持|も}たざるを{得|え}ない。 #疑問”
Iniciadores de conversa
最近のニュースで、何か{疑問|ぎもん}を{持|も}ったことはありますか？
会社の新しいルールに{疑問|ぎもん}を{持|も}っていますか？
子供の頃、当たり前だと思っていたことに{疑問|ぎもん}を{持|も}ったことは？
Erros comuns
{疑問|ぎもん}をある
{疑問|ぎもん}を{持|も}つ / {疑問|ぎもん}がある
L1 Interference
{先生|せんせい}に{疑問|ぎもん}を{持|も}ちます (when you just want to ask a question)
{先生|せんせい}に{質問|しつもん}があります
L1 Interference
{彼|かれ}を{疑問|ぎもん}を{持|も}つ
{彼|かれ}に{疑問|ぎもん}を{持|も}つ
L1 Interference
{疑問|ぎもん}を{持|も}つしている
{疑問|ぎもん}を{持|も}っている
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
To have doubts / To question something
Japanese focuses on 'holding' the doubt internally.
Tener dudas
Spanish often uses the verb 'dudar' directly.
Avoir des doutes
French has a specific phrase for 'putting back into question'.
Zweifel haben
German 'hinterfragen' is a closer match for the intellectual sense.
لديه شكوك (ladayhi shukuk)
Arabic often uses the plural 'doubts' more frequently than the singular.
产生疑问 (chǎnshēng yíwèn)
Chinese focuses on the 'arising' of the doubt.
의문을 갖다 (uimun-eul gatda)
Usage is virtually identical due to shared linguistic roots.
Ter dúvidas
Portuguese 'questionar' is more common for the active sense.
Spotted in the Real World
“「わたし、{気|き}になります！」”
While she says 'I'm curious,' the show is built on the protagonist Oreki Houtarou having to solve things because she 'holds a doubt' ({疑問|ぎもん}を{持|も}つ) about everyday mysteries.
“{専門家|せんもんか}からは、この{対策|たいさく}の{効果|こうか}に{疑問|ぎもん}を{持|も}つ{声|こえ}も{上|あ}がっています。”
Reporting on a new government policy regarding inflation.
Fácil de confundir
Both involve 'questions.'
Use '{質問|しつもん}' when you want an answer. Use '{疑問|ぎもん}' when you are skeptical.
Both mean something is 'strange.'
'{不思議|ふしぎ}' is more about wonder or being puzzled. '{疑問|ぎもん}' is more about logical skepticism.
Perguntas frequentes (5)
It is neutral. To make it polite, say '{疑問|ぎもん}を{持|も}ちます'. To make it very formal, use '{疑問|ぎもん}を{抱|いだ}いております'.
usage contextsNo, that sounds like you are doubting the teacher's lesson. Use '{質問|しつもん}があります'.
common mistakes'{疑問|ぎもん}' is more intellectual/logical. '{疑|うたが}い' is more emotional/suspicious.
basic understandingNo, that is not a phrase. You might be thinking of '{二|に}の{句|く}が{継|つ}げない' or something else. Stick to '{持|も}つ'.
grammar mechanicsUse '{疑問|ぎもん}の{余地|よち}がない' (There is no room for doubt) or '{疑問|ぎもん}は持っていません'.
practical tips
