Introduction: How do you show someone respect? You might say “please,” wave hello or hold a door open. In Thailand, people also show respect similarly but also in a different way. Even what you do with your head, feet and shoes can send a message, here.
What tradition did I learn about?: I have learned about several everyday traditions that help people show respect in Thailand.
- The wai (sounds like why?) is a greeting when you press your palms together with your fingers pointing up and bowing your head slightly. People also use it to say thank you or apologize. I do this in every interaction I have with the people here as a sign of respect.
- In America, we address our elders with "Ma'am or Sir." In Thailand, people often add kha, also written as “ka,” or khrap, also written as “krab,” to the ends of sentences to sound polite. Women generally use kha, and men generally use khrap. These little words help make a greeting or a thank-you more respectful. We also refer to our teachers as "Adjunct" which means "Professor."
- In Thai traditions, the head is considered the highest and most important part of the body. Touching someone else’s head can be disrespectful. Feet are considered the lowest part, so pointing your feet at people or using them to point at things is impolite.
Pages
