สวัสดี sà-wàt-dee everyone! Thanks for tuning in and watching my video. Today I want to share bits of Thai culture. I will demonstrate how to say “sà-wàt-dee” and do the Wai properly. Plus, I will also introduce beautiful meanings behind them. Enjoy learning!
How to Say “sà-wàt-dee” Accurately
สวัสดี
sà-wàt-dee
sà-wàd-dii
Hello! (Good day!)
Male final particle ครับ kráp
Female final particle ค่ะ kâ
3 Levels of Wai
First Level (The Highest Level of Wai)
We use this highest Wai to respect a picture of The King, Buddhist monks, and Buddha images at temples. Put your palms together in front of your chest and slightly bow your head so that your thump fingers touch between your eyebrows and your index fingers touch your forehead.
Second Level (The Basic Wai)
Thais mostly use this basic Wai to show respect or greet older people, teachers, or respectful people. First, put your palms together in front of your chest and slightly nod your head so that your thump fingers touch your nose and your index fingers touch between your eyebrows.
Third Level (The Casual Wai)
This casual Wai is basically used for greeting people who are around the same age or 1-2 years older than you. We also use this Wai to receive the Wai (ráp wâai) from people younger than you. Put your palms together in front of your chest and slightly bow your head so that your index fingers touch your nose and your thump fingers touch around your chin.
Tips How to Wai
Thai greeting only requires people to slightly bend their necks, almost like a nod. Don’t bend at the hips or your back!
Thais believe that the Wai resembles giving beautiful lotus to show someone respect so don’t forget to make your lotus plump and beautiful.
If you visit Thailand, you will majorly see “The Casual Wai”.
- R E S O U R C E S -
Learn more “Thai phrases for tourists”! ▸ http://bit.ly/ThaiPhrases
Learn Thai in various topics by reading! ▸ http://bit.ly/easythaireading