zoeng1 seon3 zoeng1 ji4將信將疑将信将疑

Jyutpingzoeng1 seon3 zoeng1 ji4

Yalejēung seun jēung yìh

語句

Definition

Skeptical; half-believing and half-doubting.

neutralemotioncommunication

How it's used

This idiom describes a state of hesitation where one is caught between belief and suspicion. It is often used when someone presents a story or offer that sounds too good to be true, prompting a cautious reaction. Unlike simply being suspicious, this implies a genuine attempt to weigh the information while remaining guarded.

Examples

keoi5佢gong2講dou3到gam3咁kwaa1誇zoeng1張，ngo5我zan1真hai6係zoeng1將seon3信zoeng1將ji4疑。

He exaggerated so much that I am really half-convinced and half-doubtful.

nei5你hai6係mai6咪zoeng1將seon3信zoeng1將ji4疑，m4唔gam2敢seon3信keoi5佢gong2講ge2嘅je5嘢aa4呀？

Are you feeling skeptical and unsure whether to believe what he said?

Common phrases

taai3態dou6度zoeng1將seon3信zoeng1將ji4疑

to have a skeptical attitude

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a simple verb meaning to doubt, but it specifically describes a balanced, conflicted mental state. It is not used to describe outright disbelief, which would be better expressed as 唔信.