某
so-and-so, one, a certain, that person
Readings
On'yomi
- ボウ
Kun'yomi
- それがし
- なにがし
Meaning
某 centers on referring to an unspecified person or thing: a certain someone, so-and-so, or that person when the identity is not stated.
Most common words using 某
- 某ぼう
certain; one
- 某所ぼうしょ
certain place
- 某氏ぼうし
a certain person; unnamed person; Mr. So-and-so; a certain someone who shall remain unnamed
- 某国ぼうこく
certain country
- 某社ぼうしゃ
certain company; unnamed company
- 何の某なんのなにがし
certain person; certain amount
- 某それがし
someone; unknown person
- 某々ぼうぼう
so-and-so
- 某日ぼうじつ
certain day
- 某月ぼうげつ
a certain month
- 某省ぼうしょう
a certain ministry; an unspecified ministry
- 某誌ぼうし
a certain publication
Study
Etymology
某 combines 甘 (sweet) and 木 (tree), but the historical origin is uncertain. It may have originally referred to a type of plum or fruit tree, later borrowed for the abstract sense of 'a certain person or thing'.
Meaning mnemonic
Picture a sweet 甘 tree 木 whose fruit is so rare that people only refer to it vaguely: 'that certain tree' or 'so-and-so's tree'. 某 is that unspecified thing.
Reading mnemonic
For ボウ, imagine pointing at a certain person and saying 'That's Bow!' as if calling them by a vague nickname: Bow -> ボウ, and the person remains unnamed.