Does Chinese have an equivalent to “Person A”?











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In English, sometimes we'll refer to a person whose name is unknown or undisclosed as "Person A" particularly in hypothetical scenarios. Does a similar thing exist in Chinese that doesn't make use of English letters?










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  • Some other alternatives: 某甲,某乙,etc.
    – xbh
    2 days ago















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In English, sometimes we'll refer to a person whose name is unknown or undisclosed as "Person A" particularly in hypothetical scenarios. Does a similar thing exist in Chinese that doesn't make use of English letters?










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  • Some other alternatives: 某甲,某乙,etc.
    – xbh
    2 days ago













up vote
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down vote

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down vote

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1






1





In English, sometimes we'll refer to a person whose name is unknown or undisclosed as "Person A" particularly in hypothetical scenarios. Does a similar thing exist in Chinese that doesn't make use of English letters?










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In English, sometimes we'll refer to a person whose name is unknown or undisclosed as "Person A" particularly in hypothetical scenarios. Does a similar thing exist in Chinese that doesn't make use of English letters?







vocabulary terminology






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asked Nov 7 at 22:51









Andrew Wang

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  • Some other alternatives: 某甲,某乙,etc.
    – xbh
    2 days ago


















  • Some other alternatives: 某甲,某乙,etc.
    – xbh
    2 days ago
















Some other alternatives: 某甲,某乙,etc.
– xbh
2 days ago




Some other alternatives: 某甲,某乙,etc.
– xbh
2 days ago










4 Answers
4






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12
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accepted










You would say




甲、乙、丙、丁……




They come from 天干, you could also say




路人甲、路人乙、路人丙……




In the case where you know his or her surname, you could also say




李某、王某……




In case if you want the specify that person's identity




某市民、某员工、某政府工作人员……







share|improve this answer




























    up vote
    3
    down vote













    To refer to someone non-specific, you can say「某某/某人/某某人」.




    我廠「某人」偷了東西,我不點他的名字,他應坦白交代。



    Someone in my factory was stealing things. I won't mention him by name, but he should come forth honestly and explain himself.




    To refer to Person A or Party A, for example in an agreement or contract, you can say 「甲方」(as opposed to Person/Party B「乙方」or both parties「雙方」).






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      up vote
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      down vote













      有个人。 means someone/somebody whom you don't know.






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        up vote
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        In addition to those involving 某, as explained in other answers, there are some general names used quite often (e.g. in story-telling) like 张三 and 李四.



        The complete list goes as: 刘一、陈二、张三、李四、王五、赵六、孙七、周八、吴九、郑十



        Source: https://www.zhihu.com/question/63926768






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          4 Answers
          4






          active

          oldest

          votes








          4 Answers
          4






          active

          oldest

          votes









          active

          oldest

          votes






          active

          oldest

          votes








          up vote
          12
          down vote



          accepted










          You would say




          甲、乙、丙、丁……




          They come from 天干, you could also say




          路人甲、路人乙、路人丙……




          In the case where you know his or her surname, you could also say




          李某、王某……




          In case if you want the specify that person's identity




          某市民、某员工、某政府工作人员……







          share|improve this answer

























            up vote
            12
            down vote



            accepted










            You would say




            甲、乙、丙、丁……




            They come from 天干, you could also say




            路人甲、路人乙、路人丙……




            In the case where you know his or her surname, you could also say




            李某、王某……




            In case if you want the specify that person's identity




            某市民、某员工、某政府工作人员……







            share|improve this answer























              up vote
              12
              down vote



              accepted







              up vote
              12
              down vote



              accepted






              You would say




              甲、乙、丙、丁……




              They come from 天干, you could also say




              路人甲、路人乙、路人丙……




              In the case where you know his or her surname, you could also say




              李某、王某……




              In case if you want the specify that person's identity




              某市民、某员工、某政府工作人员……







              share|improve this answer












              You would say




              甲、乙、丙、丁……




              They come from 天干, you could also say




              路人甲、路人乙、路人丙……




              In the case where you know his or her surname, you could also say




              李某、王某……




              In case if you want the specify that person's identity




              某市民、某员工、某政府工作人员……








              share|improve this answer












              share|improve this answer



              share|improve this answer










              answered Nov 7 at 23:32









              zyy

              1,438115




              1,438115






















                  up vote
                  3
                  down vote













                  To refer to someone non-specific, you can say「某某/某人/某某人」.




                  我廠「某人」偷了東西,我不點他的名字,他應坦白交代。



                  Someone in my factory was stealing things. I won't mention him by name, but he should come forth honestly and explain himself.




                  To refer to Person A or Party A, for example in an agreement or contract, you can say 「甲方」(as opposed to Person/Party B「乙方」or both parties「雙方」).






                  share|improve this answer

























                    up vote
                    3
                    down vote













                    To refer to someone non-specific, you can say「某某/某人/某某人」.




                    我廠「某人」偷了東西,我不點他的名字,他應坦白交代。



                    Someone in my factory was stealing things. I won't mention him by name, but he should come forth honestly and explain himself.




                    To refer to Person A or Party A, for example in an agreement or contract, you can say 「甲方」(as opposed to Person/Party B「乙方」or both parties「雙方」).






                    share|improve this answer























                      up vote
                      3
                      down vote










                      up vote
                      3
                      down vote









                      To refer to someone non-specific, you can say「某某/某人/某某人」.




                      我廠「某人」偷了東西,我不點他的名字,他應坦白交代。



                      Someone in my factory was stealing things. I won't mention him by name, but he should come forth honestly and explain himself.




                      To refer to Person A or Party A, for example in an agreement or contract, you can say 「甲方」(as opposed to Person/Party B「乙方」or both parties「雙方」).






                      share|improve this answer












                      To refer to someone non-specific, you can say「某某/某人/某某人」.




                      我廠「某人」偷了東西,我不點他的名字,他應坦白交代。



                      Someone in my factory was stealing things. I won't mention him by name, but he should come forth honestly and explain himself.




                      To refer to Person A or Party A, for example in an agreement or contract, you can say 「甲方」(as opposed to Person/Party B「乙方」or both parties「雙方」).







                      share|improve this answer












                      share|improve this answer



                      share|improve this answer










                      answered Nov 7 at 23:09









                      droooze

                      5,7121417




                      5,7121417






















                          up vote
                          3
                          down vote













                          有个人。 means someone/somebody whom you don't know.






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                            up vote
                            3
                            down vote













                            有个人。 means someone/somebody whom you don't know.






                            share|improve this answer








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                              up vote
                              3
                              down vote










                              up vote
                              3
                              down vote









                              有个人。 means someone/somebody whom you don't know.






                              share|improve this answer








                              New contributor




                              JessicaStewart1616 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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                              有个人。 means someone/somebody whom you don't know.







                              share|improve this answer








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                              share|improve this answer



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                              answered Nov 8 at 2:51









                              JessicaStewart1616

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                              312




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                              New contributor





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                                  up vote
                                  3
                                  down vote













                                  In addition to those involving 某, as explained in other answers, there are some general names used quite often (e.g. in story-telling) like 张三 and 李四.



                                  The complete list goes as: 刘一、陈二、张三、李四、王五、赵六、孙七、周八、吴九、郑十



                                  Source: https://www.zhihu.com/question/63926768






                                  share|improve this answer

























                                    up vote
                                    3
                                    down vote













                                    In addition to those involving 某, as explained in other answers, there are some general names used quite often (e.g. in story-telling) like 张三 and 李四.



                                    The complete list goes as: 刘一、陈二、张三、李四、王五、赵六、孙七、周八、吴九、郑十



                                    Source: https://www.zhihu.com/question/63926768






                                    share|improve this answer























                                      up vote
                                      3
                                      down vote










                                      up vote
                                      3
                                      down vote









                                      In addition to those involving 某, as explained in other answers, there are some general names used quite often (e.g. in story-telling) like 张三 and 李四.



                                      The complete list goes as: 刘一、陈二、张三、李四、王五、赵六、孙七、周八、吴九、郑十



                                      Source: https://www.zhihu.com/question/63926768






                                      share|improve this answer












                                      In addition to those involving 某, as explained in other answers, there are some general names used quite often (e.g. in story-telling) like 张三 and 李四.



                                      The complete list goes as: 刘一、陈二、张三、李四、王五、赵六、孙七、周八、吴九、郑十



                                      Source: https://www.zhihu.com/question/63926768







                                      share|improve this answer












                                      share|improve this answer



                                      share|improve this answer










                                      answered 2 days ago









                                      zypA13510

                                      682211




                                      682211






















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