蹊跷

qīqiao

HSK 7

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"蹊跷" is an adjective used to describe something that feels strange, suspicious, or unusual. It often implies that there is something hidden or not quite right about a situation or behavior.

Common Contexts

You will often hear "蹊跷" in conversations about mysterious events, unexpected behavior, or when something doesn’t add up logically. It carries a tone of suspicion or doubt.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 蹊跷事情 (suspicious matter): used to describe events that seem off or suspicious.
  • 感觉蹊跷 (feel suspicious): expressing a gut feeling that something is not normal.
  • 蹊跷消失 (disappear mysteriously): describing an unusual or unexplained disappearance.

Usage Tips

"蹊跷" is more formal and literary than everyday words like "奇怪" (strange). It often appears in news reports, detective stories, or serious discussions about suspicious circumstances. Avoid using it for trivial oddities.

Common Confusion

Do not confuse "蹊跷" with "奇怪". While both mean strange, "蹊跷" implies suspicion or something hidden, whereas "奇怪" is more neutral and general.

Example Sentences

这件事情有点蹊跷,为什么他突然消失了?

Zhè jiàn shìqíng yǒudiǎn qīqiāo, wèishéme tā túrán xiāoshī le?

This matter is a bit suspicious; why did he suddenly disappear?

他的话听起来很蹊跷,似乎在隐瞒什么。

Tā de huà tīng qǐlái hěn qīqiāo, sìhū zài yǐnmán shénme.

What he said sounds very odd, as if he is hiding something.

事情发展得很蹊跷,大家都感到很疑惑。

Shìqíng fāzhǎn de hěn qīqiāo, dàjiā dōu gǎndào hěn yíhuò.

The situation is developing strangely; everyone feels very puzzled.