This paper focuses on the Japanese word “bō” (某: the equivalent of “X” in English, which can be used to denote an unknown or unspecified person or thing), examining its linguistic aspects such as syntactic features and semantic position to identify the origin of the term's function of indefiniteness. This paper will also consider the pragmatic effects produced by the use of “bō,” by comparing the term with “aru” (ある, equivalent to “a certain [something]” in English), which is synonymous with “bō.” The referent of “bō” is a proper noun, and the term is used to indicate that the proper noun is not revealed. The term “bō” does not have an inherently indefinite function and only denotes someone or something indefinite as a consequence of not revealing the proper noun. The syntactic features unique to “bō” include the following: it can be used repeatedly in the same form, it can be used in a subject, and it can be used in conjunction with “aru.” These syntactic features also serve as a basis for the semantic positioning of “bō.” The final part of the paper discusses the pragmatic effects that are produced by the use of “bō.”

In this paper, we discuss the semantic function of “-te miseta” that appears at the end of sentences in Japanese written language, as well its mechanisms for expressing a variety of meanings. First, with respect to the question of “What is shown?” in “-te miseta,” we focus on types of “-te miseta”enclitic verbs, introducing five categories: “thing,” “practical skills,” “gesture and attitude,” “artificial appearance,” and “result.”

Further, this paper illustrates the “recipient usage” of “-te miseta,” which is stated from the viewpoint of the observer. For this interpretation it is necessary to distinguish separate first and third person views. The third person subject sentence is stated by the observer in accordance with the perceived attitude of the subject or result of an event or situation, and includes the evaluation of the observer.

In addition, using the five“-te miseta,”categories along with abstraction of the content presented, the term “bleaching” is introduced to discuss the phenomenon of gradual weakening in meaning of the main verb “miseru.”