Adressing a stranger

[danceswithfire]

I was watching the anime Detective Conan, and I noticed that they would call strangers uncle or aunt, and I was wondering why. Does uncle and aunt not mean family in Japan? Or is Uncle just Sir, and Aunt just Ma'am?

[richvh]

Ojisan (uncle) and obasan (aunt) are commonly used to refer to man and women of middle age. A couple of manga I have read had characters in their 20s complain about being called "ojisan" by children; one suggested "onisan" (big brother) be used instead.

[Yudan Taiteki]

My impression is that it's a little childish, though, I wouldn't use that type of address if you are high school age or beyond, particularly if you're a male.

[Mike Cash]

My impression is that it's a little childish, though, I wouldn't use that type of address if you are high school age or beyond, particularly if you're a male.

I've seen plenty of grown men using it. And by grown men I mean guys old enough to have kids who have kids.

[Harisenbon]

I've seen plenty of grown men using it. And by grown men I mean guys old enough to have kids who have kids.

However, you need to be careful about who you use it with.
Calling random people おじさん or おばさん might offend them (especially the latter)

Whenever I find myself NEEDing a pronoun to address someone, I always err on the side of だんな or おくさん.

[Yudan Taiteki]

My impression is that it's a little childish, though, I wouldn't use that type of address if you are high school age or beyond, particularly if you're a male.

I've seen plenty of grown men using it. And by grown men I mean guys old enough to have kids who have kids.

Well, my impressions aren't always right.

[danceswithfire]

thanks everyone

[Mike Cash]

My impression is that it's a little childish, though, I wouldn't use that type of address if you are high school age or beyond, particularly if you're a male.

I've seen plenty of grown men using it. And by grown men I mean guys old enough to have kids who have kids.

Well, my impressions aren't always right. :)

And the folks I see aren't necessarily always something I would recommend to others as role models.

[spin13]

However, you need to be careful about who you use it with.
Calling random people おじさん or おばさん might offend them (especially the latter)

Whenever I find myself NEEDing a pronoun to address someone, I always err on the side of だんな or おくさん.

In what situation(s) would you use　パパ, ママ,　お父さん, and お母さん? Now that I think about it, I can't recall using だんな or おくさん without having first heard somebody else using it and I otherwise don't know which is appropriate when.

And does anybody anywhere still use 女将さん or is simply a thing of old-timey novels and movies?

-Eric