How to say "somebody" in Japanese

• ひとJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounThe basic noun 'person'; it serves as 'somebody' when you mean a person as such — an individual referred to or described in context. For a wholly unspecified somebody, 誰か is the natural choice.
  この人ひとは画家がかだ！↗

  This fellow is an artist!
• 誰かだれかJLPT N5approx.Common
  pronounThe word for 'somebody' as an unspecified person: somebody is at the door, ask somebody. Related to the question word for 'who,' it leaves identity open — this is the word you want for pronoun-like 'somebody.'
  「誰だれか車くるまの中なかにいるのですか」「トムがいます」↗

  "Who is in the car?" "Tom is."

「ひと」 is really the noun 'person,' used where 'somebody' means a person as such; 「誰か」 is the word for an unspecified or unknown somebody, as in somebody is calling.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• ひとperson
• 誰かだれかsomeone
• 誰ぞだれぞsomeone