质疑

• Pinyin: zhì yí
• Hanzi breakdown: 质 = challenge; 疑 = 匕 + 矢 + 疋 (doubt — hesitation in direction)

Meaning

To question; to doubt; to challenge the validity of. Expressing scepticism about something's truth or correctness.

Used in intellectual, journalistic, and critical contexts. 质疑精神 (spirit of questioning), 遭到质疑 (be questioned/challenged), 提出质疑 (raise doubts). Valued in academic discourse as part of critical thinking.

Examples

1. 科学家对这项研究的实验方法提出了质疑。 Scientists raised doubts about the experimental methods used in the study.
2. 民众开始质疑官方公布的统计数据是否准确。 The public began to question whether the official statistics were accurate.
3. 学术界对这一传统观点的质疑声越来越大。 The academic world has been raising more and more doubts about this traditional view.

Usage Guide

Context: academic, journalism, critical thinking

Tone: sceptical

Do Say

• 学者有责任对未经验证的结论提出质疑。(Scholars have a responsibility to question unverified conclusions.)
• 面对外界的质疑，他用事实和数据进行了有力的回应。(Facing external doubts, he responded powerfully with facts and data.)

Don't Say

• 我质疑你的人品 — for personal attacks, this sounds awkward; use 怀疑 or 不信任; 质疑 is typically for ideas, claims, or decisions

Origin & History

质 (challenge/confront) + 疑 (doubt)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal