1.
who (very polite)
A very polite way to ask someone's identity, typically used by receptionists, on the phone, or when answering the door.
どちら様ですか。
May I ask who you are?
失礼ですが、どちら様でしょうか。
Excuse me, but may I ask who this is?
どちら様のご紹介でいらっしゃいますか。
May I ask who referred you?
The most polite way to ask "who?" in Japanese. Combines どちら (which direction/who, polite) with 様 (honorific suffix). Standard phrasing when answering the door, receiving phone calls, or greeting visitors at a reception desk.
POLITENESS LEVELS FOR "WHO":
- 誰: who (plain, casual)
- どなた: who (polite)
- どちら様: who (very polite, formal)
COMMON PATTERNS:
- どちら様ですか: Who are you? (polite)
- どちら様でしょうか: Who might you be? (more polite)
- どちら様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 or どなた is used instead.
SIMILAR WORDS:
- どなた: who (polite) — one step less formal than どちら様
- 誰: who — plain form, used in casual speech
- どちら: which direction; where; who (polite) — without 様, can mean "which" or "where"