244Japanese idiom 四字熟語
疑心暗鬼
ぎしんあんきGishin anki
“Suspicion fills the dark with phantoms.”
The meaning
Whoever suspects sees proof of the suspicion everywhere. Distrust manufactures its own monsters — and one ends up fighting shadows one has cast oneself.
At the origin
From a parable in the Liezi: the man who suspected his neighbor of theft found he even walked like a thief.
The characters
In practice
Before accusing, check one fact; impressions feed on themselves.
Editorial note
Classical Chinese origin (Liezi).