Translation guide
The English word 'anybody' can refer to an unspecified person, any person at all, or a person of importance. In Japanese, the translation depends heavily on context, such as whether the sentence is a question, a negative statement, or a positive statement. Often, the most natural Japanese equivalent is to use words like 誰か (someone) or 誰でも (anyone), or to omit the subject entirely.
Asking if there is any person who fits a description, often expecting a yes/no answer or an open possibility.
Used in questions to ask if there is 'someone' or 'anyone'. It implies the existence of at least one person is unknown.
誰かいますか？
Is anybody there?
誰か手伝ってくれませんか？
Can anybody help me?
Emphasizes 'any person at all' without restriction. Often used when the question is open to all possibilities.
誰でも参加できますか？
Can anybody join?
Expressing that there is no person who does or is something. Often corresponds to 'nobody' or 'not anybody'.
Used with a negative verb to mean 'nobody' or 'not anybody'. The negative form is required.
Do not use 誰か in negative sentences to mean 'anybody'; it would mean 'someone' and create a contradictory meaning.
Saying that any person can do something, or that something applies to all people without exception.
Means 'anyone' or 'anybody' in the sense of 'no matter who'. Used in affirmative sentences.
誰でもできます。
Anybody can do it.
誰でも間違いはある。
Anybody can make mistakes.
Referring to someone who is notable or significant, often in a negative sentence to say someone is not important.
When used with emphasis or in a negative context, can imply 'somebody important'. Often used in phrases like 'not just anybody'.
In Japanese, subjects are often omitted when they can be inferred from context. 'Anybody' as a subject may be left out entirely.
If the context makes it clear that you are talking about people in general, you can simply omit the subject. This is very common in Japanese.
While omission is natural, including 誰でも is often clearer for learners. Omission works best in casual conversation.
そんなこと、誰でも知ってるよ。
Anybody knows that.
誰でもできるよ。
Anybody can do it.
誰か (dareka) is 'someone' or 'anybody' in questions. 誰でも (daredemo) is 'anyone' in positive statements. 誰も (daremo) is 'nobody' with a negative verb. Be careful not to mix them up.
Using 誰か in a negative sentence does not mean 'not anybody'; it means 'someone' and creates a double-negative-like confusion. Always use 誰も for 'not anybody'.
誰でもあの間違いはするよ。
Anybody could have made that mistake.
誰も来ないと思う。
I don't think anybody will come.
誰もいません。
There isn't anybody.
誰もそれを知りません。
Nobody knows that.
Emphatic form meaning 'not a single person'. Stronger than 誰も.
誰一人として来なかった。
Not a single person came.
Used in positive sentences to mean 'everybody' or 'anybody' with a nuance of 'all people'. Often followed by a potential form or a statement of fact.
誰もが知っている事実だ。
It's a fact that anybody knows.
彼は誰かになろうとしている。
He wants to be somebody.
Literally 'just anybody', used to say someone is not special.
彼はただの誰かじゃない。
He's not just anybody.
Someone is not here. (Not: Anybody is not here.)
Someone is not here. (Not: Anybody is not here.)