某(ぼう)

ぼう
prefix, pre-noun adjectival
a certain; so-and-so
1. a certain; so-and-so; unnamed
A prefix used to refer to a person, place, or thing without specifying who or what it is. Used when the speaker deliberately conceals the identity or when the identity is unknown.
某(ぼう)大学(だいがく)の教授(きょうじゅ)が発表(はっぴょう)した。
A professor at a certain university made the announcement.
某(ぼう)有名(ゆうめい)企業(きぎょう)の社長(しゃちょう)が逮捕(たいほ)された。
The president of a certain famous company was arrested.
関係者(かんけいしゃ)の某氏(ぼうし)によると、計画(けいかく)は来月(らいげつ)発表(はっぴょう)されるらしい。
According to a certain person involved, the plan will apparently be announced next month.

Used to refer to a person, place, or organization without naming them. Common in news reporting, storytelling, and formal writing when the identity is either unknown or deliberately withheld.

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 某(ぼう) + noun: 某(ぼう)国(こく) (a certain country), 某(ぼう)社(しゃ) (a certain company), 某(ぼう)氏(し) (a certain person)
  • 某(ぼう)大学(だいがく) — a certain university
  • 某(ぼう)有名(ゆうめい)〜 — a certain famous ~

COMMON COMPOUNDS:

  • 某氏(ぼうし) — a certain Mr./Ms.
  • 某所(ぼうしょ) — a certain place
  • 某国(ぼうこく) — a certain country
  • 某日(ぼうじつ) — a certain day

REGISTER:
Fairly formal. In casual speech, people would say ある〜 (a certain ~) instead. 某(ぼう) is characteristic of news articles, official reports, and written narratives.

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • ある — a certain (more casual, everyday equivalent)
  • 何某(なにがし) — somebody, so-and-so (more literary/archaic)
general
Added 2026.3.25 19:12
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