Skip to content
道Nihongo Path

Word 2876 of 4449

Save Sign in to track

何方

どちら

which (of two); where; who (polite)

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Examples

  1. お手洗いは何方でしょうか。

    おてあらいはどちらでしょうか。

    Could you tell me where the restroom is?

  2. 何方でも構いません。

    どちらでもかまいません。

    Either one is fine.

  3. 紅茶と珈琲では何方がよろしいですか。

    こうちゃとコーヒーではどちらがよろしいですか。

    Would you prefer tea or coffee?

Common patterns

何方様
who (very polite)
何方でも
either one; whichever
何方かというと
if anything; rather

Memory tip

In modern Japanese this is written どちら; the kanji 何方 survives only in older or deliberately formal text. It is the polite form of どっち and covers 'which', 'where' and 'who' — どちら様ですか is a courteous 'who is this?'.

Kanji in this word

Quick check

1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5

What does 何方 mean?