How do I address a young lady properly in person?


In real life, if I were to meet a stranger who is a young woman around my age
in Japan, how would I--a man--call her without knowing her name? For instance,
how should I say, "Excuse me, miss, you're up (in a queue)."

A search on the Internet turned up one result dominantly--お姉さん.

However, from memory I believe I've heard another term (if not more often) in
Japanese films and anime--お嬢さん.

Somehow I feel calling any random young lady on the street お姉さん slightly off.




"お姉さん" would work just fine, or if you are doing it for a job "お客様" there are
many ways to indirectly reference someone. The best way I have found in
informal situations is to insinuate your intentions, get their attention via
gesture or "済みません", if they are busy "ちょっといいですか?", then state your intended
question or start a conversation. If you wish to know their name just ask them
"お名前は何ですか" and then refer to them as such.




"お姉さん" would work just fine, or if you are doing it for a job "お客様" there are
many ways to indirectly reference someone. The best way I have found in
informal situations is to insinuate your intentions, get their attention via
gesture or "済みません", if they are busy "ちょっといいですか?", then state your intended
question or start a conversation. If you wish to know their name just ask them
"お名前は何ですか" and then refer to them as such.

