Kanji 方 direction, person, alternative Related words どなた どなた is a polite 'who' used in similar contexts, but どちら様 is even more formal and respectful, often used when addressing someone directly or on the phone.
誰だれ 誰 is the plain 'who'; どちら様 is the honorific equivalent, showing politeness and distance.
Written forms どちら 様さま
Standard polite form; the kanji 様 is commonly used in this expression.
何方どちら 様さま
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; the reading どちらさま is normally written as どちら様 .
Etymology Compound of どちら (which direction/person, polite) + 様 (honorific suffix). The combination creates a very polite way to ask or refer to a person.
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