The Wai or Thai Greeting

In my last post I wrote that I think that Thai girls look so sexy when they wai, but many of you might ask what is a wai?

The wai (pronounced ‘why’) is the traditional Thai greeting. It is done by pressing your hands together in front of your chest or face and bowing slightly. The wai came to Thailand via the Hindu culture of India and is still widely practiced in Thailand today as both a greeting and a sign of respect.

In Thailand there are very strict rules of hierarchy governing the wai, who does the wai’ing and where to position your hands when you wai. To most foreigners there is little noticible difference, but if you train yourself you can see how Thai’s will wai differently to different people. In general here are the rules for wai’ing:

• Inferiors wai superiors first.
• Younger people wai older people first.
• The higher your hands are placed the more respect you are giving the person you are wai’ing. In general the heels of your hands will be about heart level. If you are meeting an important person or an elder your hands would be placed higher and for monks the heels of your hands should be in front of your lips or even as high as your nose.
• Do NOT wai street people or service people (ie the girl at the 7-11, hotel staff, bargirls).

As a foreigner you are not expected to know the rules for wai’ing and most business people will shake your hand. However, if someone wai’s you it is polite to wai back and you’ll want to know how to do so properly so you don’t look silly.

Thai’s will also wai when passing temples and spirit houses, even if they are driving! Many times I have been in the car when we pass a temple and see my father-in-law take his hands off the wheel to wai the temple no matter what the road conditions are. Just take it in stride and realize this is a sign of respect and very important to the Thai people.

I really love the wai. I think if westerners put more emphasis on the respect due to others we might have less problems. Plus like I said it looks really great when the girls do it. Maybe it is just the submissive look of the wai. I’m not sure, but I think it looks great. I’m often sorry to be here in the States because I don’t get the chance to see Golf wai at all.

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