誰々(だれだれ)

誰々(だれだれ) is a reduplicated form of 誰(だれ), used as a placeholder when you don't want to name specific people or when referring to unspecified individuals.

Usage

Appears when listing people without naming them, when relaying information vaguely, or when talking about hypothetical situations. Often followed by さん for politeness.

Common patterns

• 誰々(だれだれ)さんが来(く)る (so-and-so is coming)
• 誰々(だれだれ)と誰々(だれだれ) (this person and that person)
• 誰々(だれだれ)が何(なに)を〜 (who does what)

Related reduplication patterns

Japanese question words can be reduplicated to create "such-and-such" placeholders:

• 何々(なになに): such-and-such (thing)
• どこどこ: such-and-such (place)
• いついつ: such-and-such (time)
• 何時(なんじ)何時(なんじ): such-and-such (time/hour)