Processing keyword: どなた～ (donata～)

Japanese Grammar Point: どなた～ (donata～)

1. Introduction

In this lesson, we'll explore the usage of どなた (donata), a polite interrogative pronoun in Japanese. Understanding how to use どなた appropriately is essential for respectful communication, especially in formal settings.

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2. Core Grammar Explanation

Meaning

どなた (donata) means "who" in English. It is the polite or honorific form of 誰 (dare), which also means "who".

Structure

The word どなた is used in questions to ask about a person's identity in a polite manner.

Formation Diagram

graph LR
A[Question Particle] --> B[どなた]
B --> C[Verb/Desu]

• どなたですか？
  "Who are you?" (Polite)

Usage Notes

• どなた is often used in formal situations, such as business meetings, customer service, or when speaking to someone of higher social status.
• It is considered more respectful than 誰 (dare).

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3. Comparative Analysis

Japanese	Reading	Politeness Level	Usage
誰	dare	Casual	Used among friends, peers
どなた	donata	Polite/Formal	Used in formal settings
どちら様	dochira-sama	Very Polite/Honorific	Extremely polite, used in very formal contexts

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4. Examples in Context

Example Sentences

1. こちらはどなたですか。
   Kochira wa donata desu ka.
   "Who is this person?" (Polite inquiry)
2. お電話をくださったのはどなたでしょうか。
   O-denwa o kudasatta no wa donata deshou ka.
   "Who might be the one who called?" (Polite, honorific)
3. 会場にはどなたがいらっしゃいますか。
   Kaijou ni wa donata ga irasshaimasu ka.
   "Who is present at the venue?" (Polite, using honorific verb)
4. どなたにお会いしたいですか。
   Donata ni o-ai shitai desu ka.
   "Who would you like to meet?" (Polite)

Contextual Usage

• Formal Setting (Business):
  どなたがプロジェクトの責任者ですか。
  Donata ga purojekuto no sekininsha desu ka.
  "Who is the person in charge of the project?"
• Customer Service:
  ご予約はどなたの名前でされていますか。
  Goyoyaku wa donata no namae de sarete imasu ka.
  "Under whose name is the reservation made?"

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5. Cultural Notes

Cultural Relevance

Using どなた reflects the Japanese cultural emphasis on respect and social hierarchy. It is important to use the appropriate level of politeness to show respect, especially in the following situations:

• Speaking to customers or clients
• Addressing elders or superiors
• Formal occasions and introductions

Idiomatic Expressions

• どなた様でしょうか。
  Donata-sama deshou ka.
  An extremely polite way to ask "Who is this?", often used when answering the phone or door.

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6. Common Mistakes and Tips

Error Analysis

• Using 誰 (dare) instead of どなた (donata) in formal situations:
  This can come across as rude or too casual.
  • Incorrect: あなたは誰ですか。 (Anata wa dare desu ka.)
  • Correct: どなたですか。 (Donata desu ka.)

Learning Strategies

• Mnemonic Device:
  Think of どなた as "Don (Mr.) + ata (person)" to remember it's a polite form when asking about someone.
• Practice Politeness Levels:
  Pair どなた with honorific verbs for added politeness. For example, using いらっしゃいます instead of います.

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7. Summary and Review

Key Takeaways

• どなた is the polite form of 誰 (who).
• Use どなた in formal situations to show respect.
• Remember to adjust the level of politeness based on the context and the person you're addressing.

Quick Recap Quiz

1. How do you ask "Who is this?" politely in Japanese? a) これは誰ですか。
   b) こちらはどなたですか。
   c) これは何ですか。
2. Which is more polite: 誰 or どなた?
3. Fill in the blank with the appropriate word: ご担当者は ______ でしょうか。
   (Who is the person in charge?)

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Answers:

1. b) こちらはどなたですか。
2. どなた is more polite than 誰.
3. どなた — ご担当者はどなたでしょうか。

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