Meaning
Refers to someone or somewhere, or to no one.
Formation
- だれか／どこか mean someone／somewhere, also in questions and invitations: だれかいますか, どこか行きませんか
- With a negative だれも／どこも mean nobody／nowhere: だれも来ません. With a positive they mean everyone／everywhere: だれもが知っています, どこも混んでいます
- With a direction the particle usually stays before も: どこへも／どこにも行きません; in casual speech it is often dropped: どこも行きません
When to use it
- Core use
- Refers to someone or somewhere, or to no one
Examples
14 sentences-
教室にだれかいます
Someone is in the classroom.
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今日はどこへも行きません
I will not go anywhere today.
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休みにどこか遠い所へ行きたいです
On holiday I want to go somewhere far away.
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教室にはだれもいません
There is nobody in the classroom.
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玄関にだれかいます
There is someone at the entrance.
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この歌はだれも知りません
Nobody knows this song.
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週末はどこかへ行きたいです
I want to go somewhere this weekend.
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昨日はどこへも行きませんでした
I did not go anywhere yesterday.
6 more examples
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だれか手伝ってください
Somebody please help me.
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このことはだれにも話しません
I will not tell anyone about this.
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鍵がどこかにあります
The key is somewhere.
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どこにも財布がありません
My wallet is nowhere to be found.
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だれかと一緒に行きますか
Will you go with someone?
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まだだれも来ていません
Nobody has arrived yet.
Important notes
- だれか and どこか (someone, somewhere) are common in questions and invitations: だれかいますか, どこか行きませんか. With a positive predicate どこも and だれもが mean everywhere and everyone: どこも混んでいます.
Common mistakes
- For 'nobody' and 'nowhere' use だれも／どこも with a negative: だれも来ませんでした. With a direction the particle usually stays before も (どこへも行きません); in casual speech it is often dropped: どこも行きません.
Check yourself
Pick the translation of each sentence. The wrong options translate similar patterns, so watch the grammar rather than the words.
Similar grammar
Hear it in podcasts
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