どちら様(さま)

The most polite way to ask "who?" in Japanese. Combines どちら (which direction/who, polite) with 様(さま) (honorific suffix). Standard phrasing when answering the door, receiving phone calls, or greeting visitors at a reception desk.

POLITENESS LEVELS FOR "WHO":

• 誰(だれ): who (plain, casual)
• どなた: who (polite)
• どちら様(さま): who (very polite, formal)

Common patterns

• どちら様(さま)ですか: Who are you? (polite)
• どちら様(さま)でしょうか: Who might you be? (more polite)
• どちら様(さま)でいらっしゃいますか: Who are you? (most polite)

Usage

Used in service and hospitality contexts. Receptionists, hotel staff, and phone operators use this form. In everyday casual conversation, 誰(だれ) or どなた is used instead.

Similar words

• どなた: who (polite) — one step less formal than どちら様(さま)
• 誰(だれ): who — plain form, used in casual speech
• どちら: which direction; where; who (polite) — without 様(さま), can mean "which" or "where"