どなた様(さま)

どなたさま
pronoun
who (very polite, honorific)
formalhonorificperson
1. who (very polite)
Highly polite way of asking who someone is. Used in formal service contexts such as hotels, receptions, and business settings. More deferential than どなた alone.
どなた様(さま)でいらっしゃいますか。
Who might you be? (very formal)
インターホン越(ご)しに「どなた様(さま)ですか」と確認(かくにん)した。
I confirmed through the intercom, "Who is it?"
受付(うけつけ)の担当者(たんとうしゃ)は「どなた様(さま)のご予約(よやく)でしょうか」と聞(き)いた。
The receptionist asked, "Whose reservation is it?"

The most polite form of "who." Composed of どなた (polite form of だれ) + 様 (honorific suffix).

Politeness scale

  • だれ: who (plain)
  • どなた: who (polite/respectful)
  • どなた様(さま): who (very polite; formal service language)

Common expressions

Typically used by service staff (hotels, restaurants, receptions) and in formal business contexts.

general
Added 2026.6.12 17:54 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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