Something, someone

Stage 4 Pointing, question & people wordsChunk 10 of 27 · items 411–414 of 484

Question word + ka = some-, used to ask whether rather than what.

nanika

#72

something; anything

何かなにか

Asks whether there is something (nanika atta?) or offers something unspecified (nanika nomu?); in fast speech it becomes nanka.

casual

nanika atta no?

Did something happen?

何かあったの？

polite

nanika atta n desu ka?

Did something happen?

何かあったんですか？

Casually most people say nanka: nanka atta no? The same nanka is also a filler (Responses, reactions, fillers & social phrases).

Learn alongside: dareka, dokoka, itsukaLearn first: nani

dareka

#212

someone; anyone

誰かだれか

An unspecified person: dareka kita? asks whether anyone came, while dare ga kita? asks who came.

casual

sakki dareka kita?

Did someone come by earlier?

さっき誰か来た？

polite

sakki dareka kimashita ka?

Did someone come by earlier?

さっき誰か来ましたか？

Learn alongside: nanika, dokoka, itsukaLearn first: dare

dokoka

#588

somewhere

どこか

An unspecified place, often with the particle after it dropped (dokoka iku?); doko iku? would ask where.

casual

dokka iku no?

Are you going somewhere?

どっか行くの？

polite

dokoka iku n desu ka?

Are you going somewhere?

どこか行くんですか？

Casually dokoka is said dokka (どっか #788); use dokoka in polite speech.

Learn alongside: nanika, dareka, itsukaLearn first: doko, nanika

itsuka

#509

someday; sometime

いつか

An unspecified time, mostly for future wishes and loose plans (itsuka ikitai, itsuka mata).

casual

itsuka ikitai na.

I'd love to go someday.

いつか行きたいな。

polite

itsuka ikitai desu ne.

I'd love to go someday.

いつか行きたいですね。

itsuka also means 'the fifth (day)'; context separates them.

Learn alongside: nanika, dareka, dokokaLearn first: itsu, nanika