At a first meeting, saying お姉さんですか instead of お母さんですか comes off as clever or neutral? never impolite?


This greatly depends on context, but when I am clearly being introduced to
someone's mother, in English, I will sometimes say " _Oh. Is this your
sister?._ " as a compliment. The intended compliment being that she looks one
generation younger than she clearly is not.

What about in Japanese. Were I to be being introduced to someone who is the
mother of someone, and I were to say 「あ、お姉さんですか」 is there any chance that
would come off as creepy, impolite, or too awkward? I just want to sound
clever and clearly be giving a complement to the older woman and get everyone
to smile. Of course, this is so minor I've no problem with never doing it.




It's quite opinion-based, but I find it mildly funny (as a joke) and works as
compliment too. Your specific wording 「あ、お姉さんですか」 doesn't sound weird, except
I can't check your pronunciation technically. Also, I may be prejudiced but
Americans are generally regarded fond of jokes, so you don't have to worry
much if the specific one bombed.




It's quite opinion-based, but I find it mildly funny (as a joke) and works as
compliment too. Your specific wording 「あ、お姉さんですか」 doesn't sound weird, except
I can't check your pronunciation technically. Also, I may be prejudiced but
Americans are generally regarded fond of jokes, so you don't have to worry
much if the specific one bombed.

