有…之嫌
to be open to the charge of; to smack of
Structure
主语 有 动作／名词 之嫌
What it means
'To be open to the charge of; to smack of': a polite, written way to criticise without accusing outright. 嫌 is suspicion.
How it is built
Subject + 有 + action or noun + 之嫌: 这样的标题有误导读者之嫌 (a headline like this is open to the charge of misleading readers). Common: 有炒作之嫌, 有抄袭之嫌, 有夸大之嫌.
When to use it
Written commentary and reviews, often softened with 恐怕 or 似乎. The legal word is 涉嫌 + offence (涉嫌诈骗). In speech: 有点像在…, 让人觉得是在….
Watch out
Only for something negative: ✗有帮助别人之嫌。 Don't blend it with 涉嫌: ✗有涉嫌诈骗之嫌。 ✓涉嫌诈骗。
Examples
这样的标题有误导读者之嫌。
A headline like this is open to the charge of misleading readers.
他这么说，恐怕有推卸责任之嫌。
Saying that, he risks looking as if he is dodging responsibility.
Learn this in Lesson 110 · HSK 7–9: 信息从哪儿来 (Where the news comes from)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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