Looking up...
同氏
dōshi
the said person
同氏は来週、会議に出席します。
The said person will attend the meeting next week.
formal
A formal way to refer to a previously mentioned person in writing or speech, often used in business, legal, or academic contexts.
同氏はプロジェクトの責任者です。
The said person is the project leader.
同氏の意見を尊重します。
We respect the said person's opinion.
Commonly used in formal documents, contracts, or reports to avoid repetition. Similar to 'the aforementioned person' or 'the person in question'.
Pro Tip
Formal vs. Informal Alternatives
In informal settings, use pronouns like 彼 (kare, 'he') or 彼女 (kanojo, 'she') or simply the person's name. For neutral contexts, その人 (sono hito) or 当人 (tōnin) are more natural.
Gold Rule
When to Use 同氏
Use 同氏 when: - Referring to a third party already mentioned in the text. - Writing formal documents, contracts, or academic papers. - Avoiding repetition of a person's name in a professional context.
Word Origin
Composed of 同 (dō, 'same') and 氏 (shi, 'surname' or 'person'). The term emerged in the Meiji era (1868–1912) as a formal way to refer to someone without using their name, influenced by Chinese classical language.
Usage Notes
1. Primarily used in written Japanese, especially in formal or professional contexts. 2. Avoid using in casual conversation; it can sound overly formal or distant. 3. In legal or business documents, it is often paired with 当該 (tōgai, 'said' or 'aforementioned') for clarity, e.g., 同氏当該 (dōshi tōgai). 4. Not used to refer to oneself or the speaker's group.
Word Breakdown
同
same, said
prefix氏
surname, person (formal)
noun和英辞典