The Hows and “Wais” of Etiquette in Thailand

Adapted from http://www.frommers.com/destinations/thailand/620741 and http://gwnunn.com/blog/2012/09/how-to-behave-in-thailand-or-how-to-not-act-like-an-ugly-tourist/

It has always been my experience that in a foreign country, if you make an attempt to understand the culture and learn a few words, you can go a long way.

This is natural. Imagine you are in your home town and a young man obviously from a foreign country extends you his hand for a handshake, smiles, says hello with an strong accent, points to a hotel brochure and then says please.

You would most likely direct him to his hotel, and you may even go out of your way to help him.

Now imagine the same scenario with him yelling to you in Cantonese and waving the brochure at you, most likely you will sidestep him, wouldn’t you?

In most places, Thailand included, I have found that good manners and appropriate dress earn you respect. A few small gestures and a general awareness always help foster a spirit of instant goodwill.

A few Thai words and phrases:

  • Hello sà wàt dee
  • Yes Châi
  • No Mâi châi
  • Please Kŏr
  • Thank You Kŏrp kun

The wai or the art of the Thai greeting

  • The wai is a customary greeting and consists of joining the palms together as if in prayer with the fingers pointed skyward. You should lightly touch your fingers somewhere between the chest and forehead. It is considered both a greeting and a sign of respect; the amount of respect and courtesy is based on the height of the hands and the lowering of the head to meet the thumbs.
  • The wai is observed when entering a house along with the salutation sawasdee pronounced sà wàt dee. Men follow it up with Krup as in Sawasdee Krup while females would say Sawasdee Ka. Although it is commonly used as “hello” it is considered a derivative of the Sanskrit word svasti which means “well being”. When leaving, you should ask permission to leave, and repeat the wai.

Thai temple etiquette

  • Temples ...

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