Translation guide
How to express 'someone else' in Japanese, covering general references, specific contrasts, and common phrases.
Referring to another person in a general sense, often when contrasting with oneself or a specific person.
The most common and neutral word for 'someone else' or 'another person', often used in contrasts with oneself or family.
That's someone else's problem.
Do it yourself without relying on others.
Literally 'other person', a straightforward and common way to say 'someone else'. Slightly more concrete than 他人.
Please ask someone else.
Emphasizes a different person, often used when suggesting an alternative.
Go get someone else.
Indicating that something belongs to another person.
Emphasizing that an action or state applies to another person, not the speaker.
Referring to an unspecified person, often in questions or hypotheticals.
Common expressions where 'someone else' appears in fixed phrases.
Literally 'other people's affairs', used to describe something that doesn't concern oneself. Often used in the phrase 他人事ではない (it's not someone else's problem).
This problem is not someone else's concern.
Proverb meaning 'Learn from others' mistakes' or 'Observe others and correct your own behavior'.
他人 can sound cold or distant. When referring to friends, family, or colleagues, it's often better to use 他の人 or specify the relationship.
I'll ask a friend (not 'someone else').
他人 is the most general and abstract. 他の人 is more concrete and often interchangeable. 別の人 emphasizes a different person, often as a replacement.
Someone else knows about it.
They say 'learn from others' mistakes,' so let's learn from his failure.