誰 vs どなた: Who (Casual) vs Who (Polite) in Japanese

Yuka

Japanese has two words for “who” — 誰 and どなた — and choosing the right one is all about formality. Let’s sort them out!

誰: Neutral Who

誰 (dare) is the standard, everyday word for “who.” It’s used in most situations — from casual conversation to neutral written Japanese:

• 誰ですか？ — Who is it?
• 誰が来ましたか？ — Who came?
• これ、誰の？ — Whose is this?
• 誰でもいい。 — Anyone is fine.

どなた: Polite Who

どなた (donata) is the polite/respectful form. Use it when speaking to customers, strangers, or people you want to show respect to:

• どなたですか？ — Who are you? (polite)
• どなたにお電話ですか？ — Who are you calling? (phone etiquette)
• どなた様でしょうか？ — May I ask who you are? (very formal)

Rei

Can I always use どなた to be safe?

Yuka

Using どなた in casual situations can sound overly stiff. Among friends, 誰 is the natural choice.

Comparison

Quick Quiz

You’re working at a hotel reception. A guest calls. How do you ask who they are?

Answer: どなた様でしょうか？

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