疑惑

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 疑惑 (ぎわく) is a noun for suspicion or doubt about a matter whose truth is uncertain.
• Basic usage: It appears when a reporter pursues suspicions or when doubts remain after an explanation.
  • 小説の記者は会計をめぐる疑惑を追った。 — The reporter in the novel investigated suspicions surrounding the accounts.
  • 本人の説明を聞いても疑惑は残った。 — Doubts remained even after hearing their explanation.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Suspicion and established fact
  • 疑惑 marks a state of suspicion; it does not say that wrongdoing has been established. Also distinguish 疑惑を追う from 疑惑が残る.