also: なにぼう
noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
some; a certain amount
Only with reading なにがし
Used to indicate an unspecified but definite amount, often in the pattern なにがしか. Formal or literary.
彼はなにがしかの金を寄付した。
He donated a certain amount of money.
pronoun
a certain person; Mr. So-and-so
Refers to an unspecified person whose identity is known but not revealed. Formal or written style.
何がしという人物が訪ねてきた。
A certain person came to visit.
pronoun
Only with reading なにがし
Archaic humble first-person pronoun. Used in historical or highly formal contexts to refer to oneself modestly.
何がしが承りました。
I have received your message (archaic humble).
Kanji form; also read なにぼう in some contexts.
Alternate reading of the kanji form; archaic or literary.
Abbreviated kanji form; less common.
Derived from 何 (なに, 'what') + がし (an old suffix indicating uncertainty or indefiniteness). The exact origin of がし is uncertain.