兩個英文單字－suspect與doubt，中文意思都是「懷疑」，但其實這兩個字完全不一樣！中文說：「我真的懷疑他考試作弊」。說這話的人認為，他考試有作弊。此時，英文用suspect。如果中文說：「我很懷疑他考試作弊」。語意則是，說話者不相信他考試有作弊。這時候，英文用doubt。簡單說，suspect就是「這麼認為」，而doubt則是「不這麼認為」。

suspect 懷疑 (vt.)

= think so (認為如此)
= speculate (臆測)
= guess (猜測)

1. People suspected/thought/speculated/guessed that John murdered his boss.
   (當時人們懷疑約翰謀殺他的老闆。)
   
   
2. Have you ever suspected/thought/speculated/guessed that the man is a spy?
   (你曾經懷疑過該名男子是間諜嗎？)
   
   
3. Is there anyone who suspects/thinks/speculates/guesses that the ad is actually a scam?
   (有任何人懷疑這則廣告其實是詐騙嗎？)
   
   
4. I suspect/think/speculate/guess that Henry is in love with you.
   (我猜啊，亨利愛上你了。)
   
   
5. The police suspected Tom’s involvement in that crime.
   (警方懷疑湯姆涉入那起犯罪事件。)
   
   

doubt 懷疑 (vt.)

= do not think so

1. People used to doubt that the earth is round. (人們懷疑地球是圓的。)
   They didn’t think so. (他們不這麼認為。)
   
   
2. I doubt that she cheated in that exam. (我懷疑她考試作弊。)
   She couldn’t have done that. (她不可能這麼做。)
   
   
3. Her boss doubts her ability at work. (她的老闆懷疑她的工作能力。)
   
   
4. The police doubted Tom’s involvement in that crim. (警方懷疑湯姆涉入那起犯罪事件。)
   They didn’t think so. (他們不這麼認為。)
   
   

重點整理

1. S suspect O
   = S think/speculate/guess O
   主詞懷疑認為...
   
   
2. S doubt O
   = S do not think O
   主詞懷疑不認為...
   
   

很多人學英文，只是一味地死背單字的中文意思，而不知道這個字該怎麼用。長久下來，腦袋裡面塞了一堆單字，等到要閱讀文章或造句寫作時，這些單詞顯得零碎雜亂，幾乎沒有什麼用處。王安英文推出一系列「易混淆單字」的精闢整理，希望幫助有心學好英文的人，透過系統整理，把單字背好背滿！不但要知道一個字的中文意思，更要學會該字在一個句子中扮演什麼角色。這麼一來，你的閱讀與寫作能力必定會有大幅的進步喔！