Meaning and Usage
The word 『誰』 (だれ) means "who" and is used to ask about a person’s identity. It is one of the most basic question words in Japanese and appears frequently in daily conversation.
Common Contexts
- Asking about the identity of a person: "誰が来ますか？" (Who is coming?)
- Asking possession: "これは誰のペンですか？" (Whose pen is this?)
- Expressing inclusiveness: "誰でも" means "anyone" or "whoever," as in "誰でも参加できます。" (Anyone can participate.)
Collocations and Patterns
- 誰が + verb: to ask who performs an action (e.g., 誰が来ますか？)
- 誰の + noun: to ask about possession (e.g., 誰の本ですか？)
- 誰でも: means "anyone," used to express no restriction on who (e.g., 誰でもいいです。)
Notes
- 『誰』 is used in polite and casual speech.
- When combined with particles like が or の, it forms common question patterns.
- Learners sometimes confuse 『誰』 with 『どなた』, which is a more polite form of "who." Use 『どなた』 in formal situations.
Understanding 『誰』 well helps you ask about people naturally and clearly in Japanese.