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道Nihongo Path
誰

誰·who

On-yomi
none
Kun-yomi
だれ

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.

15 strokes, numbered in writing order. Data: KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
誰だれwho
誰かだれかsomeone
誰もだれもnobody (with a negative verb)
誰でもだれでもanyone at all

Example sentences

  1. あの人は誰ですか。

    あのひとはだれですか。

    Who is that person?

  2. 部屋には誰もいませんでした。

    へやにはだれもいませんでした。

    There was nobody in the room.

  3. この仕事は誰でもできます。

    このしごとはだれでもできます。

    Anyone can do this job.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 誰も as 'everyone' — with a negative verb it means nobody
  • Using 誰 in polite speech where どなた is expected

Memory aid

Picture it

Words (言) aimed at a bird (隹) perched out of reach — you can't make it out, so you ask: who's there?

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 誰 mean?