Thai Etiquettes and CustomsWednesday, January 18, 12

•Social relationships = one person being superior to the other

•Parents are superior to children, teachers to students, boss to subordinate

•Status being determined by clothing, appearance, age, job, education, and family name

Hierarchical Society

Wednesday, January 18, 12

Thai Family Values

•More closely tied with family than in western countries

•Extended family with many generations living together.

•Parents are at the top.

•Children are taught to honor, respect, and obey parents.

Wednesday, January 18, 12

Nature of Thais

•Extremely tolerant, forgiving, easy-going

•By-product of Buddhism

•Politeness, respect, friendly manner, self-control to keep harmonious relation

•Non confrontational society

•Open criticism is rare, always look for compromise

Wednesday, January 18, 12

Thai Greeting

•Wai = sign of respect

•the lower the head, the more respect is shown.

•Sitting, walking, standing

•The younger initiate the ‘Wai’

•The senior return the ‘Wai’

Wednesday, January 18, 12

Clothing

•Improper to wear revealing clothes

•Short shorts or skirt, low cut dress or top

•In temple, long trousers or skirts must be worn.

•Being influenced by western countries, Japan and Korea, teenagers become more open to what they wear

Wednesday, January 18, 12

Sacred Part of Body

•Head = the most sacred= not to be touched

•Foot = the least sacred = not to be pointed to anyone

•Pointing with foot is extremely insulting

•Feet to be tucked under body when seated on the floor

•Touching people = invasion personal space

Wednesday, January 18, 12

Sacred Part of Body

•Never pat a Thai on the head

•Rude to stand over someone older

•Lower your head when passing older person

•Always keep your feet down

Wednesday, January 18, 12

Sacred Part of Body

•Clothing from lower part should not be in a high position

•Socks, underwear

•Two clothes lines

•Separate clothes before washing

Wednesday, January 18, 12

Practice Thai Manners

•How to Wai (3 levels)

•How to walk pass an older person

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRtsCuVqxtQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJ7s2-WwDhc

Wednesday, January 18, 12

Land of Smile

•Thai smiles say many things

•Happy, amused, embarrassed, uncertain, wrong, annoyed, furious

Wednesday, January 18, 12

Shoes

•Thais do not wear shoes in their house or a temple

•Happy, amused, embarrassed, uncertain, wrong, annoyed, furious

Wednesday, January 18, 12

•http://radio2.rmutt.ac.th/?attachment_id=2063

References

Wednesday, January 18, 12