方々

(2 entries)
かたがた
Alternative writings: 方方, 方がた
JLPT:N3
Frequency:
1

an honorific plural referring to people (e.g., 'ladies and gentlemen', 'everyone'); used politely as in '関係者の方々'.

NounHonorific or Respectful (Sonkeigo) Language

Examples

関係者の方々に深く感謝申し上げます。

I would like to express deep gratitude to all those involved.

世界各国から多くの方々が来日した。

Many people from countries around the world came to Japan.

訪問者の方々はこちらでお待ちください。

Visitors, please wait here.

2

archaic/old-fashioned use as a second-person plural pronoun ('you' plural). Rare in modern speech, seen in classical or historical texts.

PronounHonorific or Respectful (Sonkeigo) LanguageArchaic

Examples

昔の物語では、『そなた方々』や『汝方々』のように方々が二人称として使われることがある。

In old tales, 'かたがた' is sometimes used as a second-person plural, as in 'そなた方々'.

Word Relationships

Synonyms