どなたか

Meanings

1

someone (honorific)

honorific or respectful (sonkeigo)usually written using kana alone

Polite, honorific way to refer to an unspecified person. Used when the speaker does not know who, or when asking if anyone is present. Often appears in questions or offers.

See also: どなた

どなたか質しつ問もんはありますか。
Does anyone have a question?
どなたかお手伝てつだいいただけませんか。
Could someone please help me?

Usage patterns

どなたか〈動どう詞し〉ませんかCould someone please...? (polite request for a volunteer)
どなたか手伝てつだっていただけませんか。
Could someone please help me?
どなたかいらっしゃいますかIs there anyone there? (polite inquiry about presence)
受うけ付つけにどなたかいらっしゃいますか。
Is there someone at the reception desk?
どなたかご存ぞん知じですかDoes anyone happen to know...? (polite inquiry)
この件けんについてどなたかご存ぞん知じですか。
Does anyone know about this matter?

Kanji

何what
方direction, person, alternative

Related words

誰だれかN5
誰か is the plain, everyday word for 'someone', while どなたか is the polite, honorific version used to show respect to the person referred to.

Politeness

誰だれかplainN5
誰か is the plain form for 'someone', while どなたか is the polite version used when speaking to or about people you should show respect to.

Don't confuse with

どなたN5
何方 (どなた) is the honorific question word meaning 'who', while どなたか adds か to mean 'someone (unspecified)'.
どなたでも
どなたか means 'someone/anyone' in a question or request about a single unspecified person, whereas どなたでも means 'anyone at all, no matter who.'

Counted with

人にん
The everyday counter for people: 一人 (ひとり), 二人 (ふたり), 三人 (さんにん).
名めいN2
More formal than 人 — used for headcounts in reservations, staff lists, and announcements (5名様).

Etymology

Combination of honorific interrogative どなた (who) and particle か (indefinite).