“wai” is an exquisite and unique traditional way Thai people greet and show respect. Thai people also perform the Wai in these situations:
- Giving Thanks
- Good Bye
- Apologizing
- Praying to the Buddha
- Paying respect to sacred things i.e. spirit house, image of the King
Anyone who has travelled to Thailand will be familiar with the wai, but the wai can be confusing for non-Thai who are not brought up with it. I have come across these questions many times;
Q: Who do we Wai?
Thai culture is strongly hierarchical. Respect must be given to those of higher social status, and to elders. Therefore, here are the rules:
- People with lower social status wai first i.e.
– Employee wai the boss
– Student wai teacher
- Younger people wai older people first. i.e.
– Young kids wai their older family members
- While listening to a Buddhist sermon, we hold a wai during the entire program
Tips:
1. A wai is not used to greet children
2. We don’t wai anyone who we are paying for service such as waiters, tailors, vendors, shopkeepers or taxi drivers.
Q: How to Wai?
Traditionally, there are three different types of Wais
[1] Wai monks
- Your hands pressed together,
- Put your thumbs between your eyebrows,
- The index fingers touch the forehead,
- And presenting a slight bow with your body.
[2] Wai superior / older person
- Your hands pressed together,
- Put your thumbs on the tip of your nose,
- The index fingers touch between your eyebrows,
- And presenting a slight bow with your body.
[3] Wai person in the same age
- Your hands pressed together,
- Your thumbs touch the tip of your chin,
- The index fingers touch the tip of your nose.
Nowadays, Thai people do the wai to superior or older person by putting the hands on the chest level and slightly bow the head. We don’t wai people at your own age anymore!.
Q: Do we Wai back when someone Wai us?
– It is not necessary to do the Wai back, especially when we are being wai-ed by anyone who we are paying for service such as hotel staff, waiters etc. We usually just nod, smile and say สวัสดี hello or ขอบคุณ thank you in response.
However, in my opinion it is nice and sweet when someone wai us and we do the wai back i.e. when my little borther’s friend Wai me, I like to response by doing the wai back to them too.
In case you want to do the Wai in return, you can simply just put your hands together at the chest level and say ‘sawatdee ka/krap’. Don’t need to bow.
FYI: Monks don’t return the Wai
I have noticed many times that foreigners in Thailand did the Wai in the situation that it is not needed. However, I think it was very sweet of them. In case you wonder when and how to do the Wai like a Thai, I hope you find this information useful. : )
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