Explore Words Kanji Grammar Guides

Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Get the Kotomora apps for iOS and Android.

Explore Words Kanji Grammar Guides About Support Privacy

Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

誰か (だれか, dareka) Japanese meaning: someone | Kotomora

誰だれか

だ

れ

か

Common word›JLPTN5›

Meanings

1

someone; somebody

Refers to an unspecified person. Used in statements and questions, but not in negative contexts where 誰も is preferred.

誰だれかがドアをノックした。

Someone knocked on the door.

誰だれか手伝てつだってくれませんか。

Could someone help me?

Usage patterns

誰だれかが〈動どう詞し〉someone does (something)
誰だれかがドアをノックした。
Someone knocked on the door.
誰だれかに〈物もの〉をもらうto get (something) from someone
誰だれかにペンをもらった。
I got a pen from someone.
誰だれかいませんかis there anyone (around/who can help)?
手伝てつだってくれる人ひと、誰だれかいませんか。
Is there anyone who could help me?

Grammar

何なにか・だれか・どこかIndefinite question wordsN5

Kanji

誰who, someone, somebody

Related words

どなたか
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.

Opposites

誰だれも
誰か means 'someone' in affirmative or question sentences, while 誰も paired with a negative verb means 'no one'.

Politeness

どなたかpolite 丁寧語
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

誰だれN5
誰 is the plain interrogative 'who' used to ask for a specific identity, while 誰か adds the indefinite '-ka' to mean an unspecified 'someone'.
誰だれも
誰か means 'someone/somebody,' the opposite idea from 誰も used with a negative verb to mean 'no one.'
誰だれでも
誰か means 'someone' (one unspecified person), whereas 誰でも means 'anyone/whoever' regardless of who it is.

Word family

誰だれかさん
a certain someone; you-know-who

Etymology

Compound of 誰 (dare, 'who') and the indefinite particle か (ka).