怪しい
ayashii[a̠ja̠ɕiː]
The Japanese phrase for "sus" is 怪しい (ayashii).
The term 怪しい is a common way to express that someone or something is "sus." It can be used to describe people acting suspiciously, as well as situations or objects that seem untrustworthy, dubious.
How does it change in a sentence?
怪しい is an i-adjective. Because of this, it can directly precede a noun to describe it.
How do you pronounce it?
ayashii
Did you know?
- In Japanese, 怪しい can describe a fading light or a flickering flame. In this context, it does not mean 'dishonest' but rather 'unstable' or 'about to go out'.
- The word 怪しい is the root of the Japanese word for 'mystery' or 'occult', 怪異 (kaii). While 'sus' is usually a social judgment, the same root describes supernatural phenomena and ghosts.
- While 怪しい is the standard term, gamers in Japan often use the English loanword 'sus' written as サス or サスい specifically when playing Among Us. This creates a linguistic loop where English slang is imported back into Japanese.
Examples in context
- その男性はちょっと怪しい感じがする。That man gives off a somewhat suspicious vibe.
- あの人の行動、なんだか怪しい。Ano hito no koudou, nandaka ayashii.That person's behavior is somewhat suspicious.
- このメール、怪しいから開けないで。Kono meeru, ayashii kara akenaide.This email looks suspicious, so don't open it.
- 怪しい店には入らないようにしよう。Ayashii mise ni wa hairanai you ni shiyou.Let's try not to enter suspicious shops.
Example conversation
Ren and Yui are playing a social deduction game.
- 蓮 Ren結衣、君の動きが怪しいよ。Yui, kimi no ugoki ga ayashii yo.Yui, your movements are sus.
- 結衣 Yuiえっ、私は何もしてないよ！E, watashi wa nimo shite nai yo!What? I didn't do anything!
- 蓮 Renやっぱり怪しい。犯人は君だ。Yappari ayashii. Hannin wa kimi da.Definitely sus. You're the culprit.
- 結衣 Yuiひどい！蓮こそ怪しいくない？Hidoi! Ren koso ayashii kunai?That's mean! Isn't Ren the one who's sus?
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 怪しい, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
