何者
Meanings
1
who; what kind of person
Used to ask about someone's identity, often with a nuance of suspicion or curiosity about their true nature or background. Common in questions like 何者だ？ or 何者なんだ？
Who on earth is that man?
Nobody knows who he is.
Usage patterns
- 〈人〉は何者だwho (on earth) is ~? (questioning someone's true identity)
Who on earth is that guy? He suddenly showed up and seems suspicious.
- 何者かに〈動詞〉by some unknown person (passive action)
My car was scratched by someone unknown in the middle of the night.
- 何者にもなれないunable to become anyone/anything (fail to find one's identity or purpose)
I feel anxious about being unable to become anything or anyone in particular.
Expressions
- 以外の何者でもないnothing but; nothing more than; nothing less than