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涉嫌 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
涉嫌shèxiánto be a suspect (in a crime)HSK 7, unknown, 23 strokes, rank #6257, Very Hard
涉嫌shèxiánto be suspected ofHSK 7, unknown, 23 strokes, rank #6257, Very Hard
shèxián(she4xian2)she xian T4
  1. 1to be a suspect (in a crime)
  2. 2to be suspected of
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March 24, 2026

涉嫌shèxián(she4xian2)

The term 涉嫌 (shèxián) refers to being suspected of involvement in a crime or wrongdoing. It is commonly used in legal contexts to describe someone who is under suspicion but not yet proven guilty. The word carries a serious connotation, often associated with police investigations or legal proceedings.

Strokes23Frequency#6257DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In China, the concept of being 'suspected' is particularly significant in the context of legal cases, as the judicial process can often involve public scrutiny and media attention. The term reflects the seriousness and complexity of the legal system.

Memory Tip

Imagine a detective 'she'dding light on a 'xian' (sheen) of suspicion surrounding a character in a mystery novel. The character is 'in the water' (涉) of a crime, making them a suspect, thus linking the sound and meaning together with the imagery of investigation.

Meanings of 涉嫌

shèxián(she4xian2)
1to be a suspect (in a crime)
2to be suspected of
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About 涉嫌

涉嫌Simplified
23Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 涉嫌

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AI Study Notes for 涉嫌

Quick Contrast

嫌疑 (xiányí) — use 涉嫌 when emphasizing active suspicion of involvement, while 嫌疑 is more about the general notion of suspicion.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 涉嫌 with other terms like 怀疑 (huái yí, to doubt) which is less formal. It's important to use 涉嫌 in serious contexts, such as news reports or legal discussions, and avoid using it in casual conversation. Pay attention to the tones: 'she' (4th tone) and 'xian' (2nd tone) are crucial for correct pronunciation.

HSK Study Tips

This word is typically above HSK level 5 due to its formal and legal connotations. Students should focus on understanding legal vocabulary and context when encountering 涉嫌, as it often appears in news articles about crime.

Common Mistakes

Learners might mistakenly use 涉嫌 when they mean 'to doubt someone' instead of 'to suspect.' For example, saying '我对他有涉嫌' is incorrect. The correct phrase would be '我对他有怀疑 (huái yí).'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 涉嫌

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Component Characters

涉shèto wade
10 strokes氵
View full entry
嫌xiánto dislike
HSK 613 strokes女
View full entry

How to say to be a suspect (in a crime) in Chinese

“to be a suspect (in a crime)” in Chinese is涉嫌shèxián

The term 涉嫌 (shèxián) refers to being suspected of involvement in a crime or wrongdoing. It is commonly used in legal contexts to describe someone who is under suspicion but not yet proven guilty. The word carries a serious connotation, often associated with police investigations or legal proceedings.

When to use 涉嫌

Learners often confuse 涉嫌 with other terms like 怀疑 (huái yí, to doubt) which is less formal. It's important to use 涉嫌 in serious contexts, such as news reports or legal discussions, and avoid using it in casual conversation. Pay attention to the tones: 'she' (4th tone) and 'xian' (2nd tone) are crucial for correct pronunciation.

涉嫌 or something close to it

嫌疑 (xiányí) — use 涉嫌 when emphasizing active suspicion of involvement, while 嫌疑 is more about the general notion of suspicion.

What learners get wrong

Learners might mistakenly use 涉嫌 when they mean 'to doubt someone' instead of 'to suspect.' For example, saying '我对他有涉嫌' is incorrect. The correct phrase would be '我对他有怀疑 (huái yí).'

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涉
嫌

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Frequently Asked Questions about 涉嫌

No, 涉嫌 is a formal term typically used in legal contexts and should be avoided in casual conversations.

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