Readings: (Onyomi), だれ, たれ, どなた (Kunyomi)
Meaning: who; whom
The kanji 誰 combines 言 (word, speech) and 隹 (bird, often used as a phonetic component but can also imply “one,” “only,” or “gathering”). The combination suggests “who is speaking” or “who is the one.”
View JLPT N3 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The stroke order for 誰 starts with the 言 (word) radical on the left, followed by the right-hand component. Pay attention to the order of the top and bottom parts of the right side.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 言 (ことば) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 15 |
| JLPT Level | N3 |
| Grade | Joyo Kanji |
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- だれ (dare)
- どなた (donata)
Common Words Using 誰
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 誰 | だれ | who; whom |
| 誰か | だれか | someone; somebody |
| 誰も | だれも | nobody (with negative verb) |
| 誰でも | だれでも | anyone; whoever |
| どなた | どなた | who (polite) |
| 誰彼 | だれかれ | someone or another; everyone |
| 誰しも | だれしも | everyone; anybody |
| 誰が | だれが | who (subject marker) |
| 誰に | だれに | to whom (indirect object) |
| 誰と | だれと | with whom |
Example Sentences
Japanese: そこに誰がいますか？
Kana: そこにだれがいますか？
Romaji: Soko ni dare ga imasu ka?
English: Who is there?
Japanese: 誰がそれを壊しましたか？
Kana: だれがそれをこわしましたか？
Romaji: Dare ga sore o kowashimashita ka?
English: Who broke it?
Japanese: ここに誰かいますか？
Kana: ここにだれかいますか？
Romaji: Koko ni dareka imasu ka?
English: Is anyone here?
Japanese: 誰も知りません。
Kana: だれもしりません。
Romaji: Dare mo shirimasen.
English: Nobody knows.
Japanese: 誰でもできます。
Kana: だれでもできます。
Romaji: Dare demo dekimasu.
English: Anyone can do it.
Japanese: あなたは誰に会いましたか？
Kana: あなたはだれにあいましたか？
Romaji: Anata wa dare ni aimashita ka?
English: Who did you meet?
Japanese: 誰と旅行に行きましたか？
Kana: だれと旅行にいきましたか？
Romaji: Dare to ryokou ni ikimashita ka?
English: With whom did you go on a trip?
Japanese: この方はどなたですか？
Kana: このかたはどなたですか？
Romaji: Kono kata wa donata desu ka?
English: Who is this person? (polite)
Japanese: 私は彼が誰だか分かりません。
Kana: わたしはかれがだれだか分かりません。
Romaji: Watashi wa kare ga dare da ka wakarimasen.
English: I don’t know who he is.
Japanese: 今、誰の話をしていますか？
Kana: いま、だれのはなしをしていますか？
Romaji: Ima, dare no hanashi o shite imasu ka?
English: Whom are you talking about now?
Related Grammar & kanji list
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