某
某·a certain, so-and-so
- On-yomi
- ボウ
- Kun-yomi
- なにがし
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 某所 | ぼうしょ | a certain place (deliberately unnamed) |
| 某社 | ぼうしゃ | a certain company |
| 某氏 | ぼうし | a certain person, Mr. So-and-so |
| 某国 | ぼうこく | a certain country |
Example sentences
会談は都内の某所で行われた。
かいだんはとないのぼうしょでおこなわれた。
The talks were held at an undisclosed location in Tokyo.
大手の某社が新製品を発表するらしい。
おおてのぼうしゃがしんせいひんをはっぴょうするらしい。
A certain major company is apparently announcing a new product.
記事では関係者を某氏としか書いていない。
きじではかんけいしゃをぼうしとしかかいていない。
The article refers to the person involved only as Mr. X.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- Reading 某氏 as ぼうじ — it is ぼうし
- Treating 某 as a normal noun — it is a written-register prefix: 某社, 某所, never 某 alone in speech
Memory aid
Picture it
Sweet 甘 over tree 木: you point at the fruit tree whose name you will not give — 'a certain one'.
Quick check
1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5
What does the kanji 某 mean?