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How does one address a stranger in a casual conversation when name is unknown?
For example, I had a conversation with an older Japanese lady and I wanted to
compliment her on her English (but in Japanese, for some reason). Usually in
such situations I might've gone something like

> ○○さんは英語上手です。 or ○○さんの英語は上手です。

But without the name it is quite difficult for me at this point. Using あなた
feels really rude, neither I'm comfortable relying on zero-pronoun and going
英語は上手です without any context.

Should I inquire about person's name in such situations? (obviously, not right
before I have a sentence to use the name in).
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-08T17:28:55.877
17716
2014-07-08T20:14:07.727
6632
question
grammar politeness
Addressing strangers without knowing the name
As _YangMuye_ explained, honorifics can be used to clarify first and second
person without ever needing to use a first or second person pronoun. In that,
usage of 謙譲語{けんじょうご} implies I'm talking about me. Usage of 尊敬語{そんけいご} implies
I am talking about you.

An extended discussion about this topic can be read on the thread titled [そちら
as a second person
pronoun](http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=2644469). As far as I
can understand, that thread can fully explain your question.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-08T18:31:37.490
17717
2014-07-08T18:31:37.490
4835
17716
answer