Thai-Together.com

The Wai is a beautiful custom - and symbolic too. The gesture of pressing the palms together represents the offering of a budding lotus, a symbol of Buddhist enlightenment, or simply the offering of respect and goodwill. in Thailand, there are 3 main variations of the wai determined by the circumstances of who is being greeted and by whom.

The highest level wai is used for monks or to pay respect for Buddha images. You should raise your pressed palms until your thumbs touch the space between the eyebrows and your fingers touch the hairline.

The second middle level wai is for parents, teachers, senior relatives, the elderly, and others worthy of social respect. Raise your pressed palms until your thumbs tough the tip of the nose and the fingertips touch the space between your eyebrows.

The third and lowest level wai is for respected persons in general, which includes persons of the same status. Pressed palms touch the lower part of your face, thumbs touch the tip of the chin, and the index fingers touch your nose. Bow your head a little but there is no need to bow. Note that with the two higher levels, the higher the person being respected, the lower you should bow.

When greeting close friends or persons of a younger age or lower status it is not necessary to wai. A simple "sawasdee" will suffice. It is also polite to wai when saying thank you to persons of a higher status. When someone of lower status wais you, you should rap wai or return their gesture as an expression of mutual respect. To do so, press your palms together at chest level, fingertips at the chin, and bow your head slightly.

There is also a new trend of hyper-politeness among service personnel. This is becoming popular and probably aimed more at customer ego-stroking. You will notice that many service personnel now bow or wai before or after receiving money. Whatever the intention it is still a gesture of respect and it is up to you whether you want to reciprocate and rap wai .