I would like to know what the subtle differences are between the interrogative
pronouns だれ and どなた. Is the latter more subtle or something? What is the exact
difference?

Also, how compatible are these pronouns with the pronouns どれ and どちら and どっち,
and should the romaji for どっち be "docchi" or "dotchi" (are these the same)?

Thanks.

[![image of interrogative pronouns from my
book](https://i.stack.imgur.com/WesBZ.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/WesBZ.jpg)
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2016-10-27T09:54:36.183
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2016-11-20T23:38:09.967
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question
word-choice nuances word-usage pronouns interrogatives
Subtle differences between だれ and どなた?
どなた is much more polite and should mostly be used to ask a person directly who
they are.

だれ can be used when asking someone about someone else indirectly, but would be
very rude to ask someone directly(to the point of being insulting or starting
a fight).
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2016-10-27T10:05:18.893
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answer
どなた is very polite. 尊敬語. You should say どなたでしょうか？ when talking to a person of
higher status.

誰 is not polite. It can be used when talking to people of the same or lower
status (friends, family etc. ). If someone uses 誰 when talking to someone with
higher status, it is very impolite.
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2016-11-20T14:16:35.753
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answer