Is 'wai' greeting a serious thing? Is it inappropriate to 'over-wai'?
This morning I had to go to Phnom Penh and Giant Ibis bus company had all the seats booked. Normally there was always space, but due to high season, the bus was full. However, they were very nice and when they couldn't get me a seat with their competitor's Mekong, which was also full, they allowed me to ride on an extendable seat that blocks the path in the bus. For which I was enormously grateful, so I 'wai-ed' the girl at the desk 3 times with hands very high, and her smile died for a moment. It felt like I have done something inappropriate, although we have been very informal at that point.
Is it inappropriate to 'over-wai'? Or to joke about 'wai-ing'?
Wai and similar gestures are used to greet and show respect in many parts of South and East Asia:
The Thai greeting referred to as the wai (Thai: ไหว้, pronounced
wâi) consists of a slight bow, with the palms pressed together in a prayer-like fashion. It has its origin in the Indian Añjali Mudrā, like the Indian namaste and the Cambodian sampeah
Sampeah (Cambodian greeting)
Best Answer
In Thailand, there's a superstition that wai'ing someone younger than yourself takes a year (maybe years?) off of their life.
A couple of times when I have wai'ed Thai friends that were noticeably younger than me, I was chided (mostly jokingly) that I had shortened their life.
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What does wai symbolize?
The wai gesture originated in Buddhism and has similar origins as namaste in Hinduism. It was basically a yogic posture of the palms and signifies the equal meeting of the two palms. It means that the other party is treated as an equal human being.Should you wai in Thailand?
Greetings are accompanied by the gesture known as a 'wai', which is the placing of two palms together, with fingertips touching the nose. A wai indicates the level of respect for another person and is an acknowledgement of seniority. A person should bow their head with their palms pressed together to indicate respect.How do you wai a monk?
The Monk Wai: A real sign of reverence is used when Thais wai to monks. In this instance, the nod turns into more of a bow and the hands slide up so that the thumbs touch the eyebrows. When it comes to a wai to royalty, Thais will bow or curtsey whilst they slowly make this gesture.Should I bow in Thailand?
There is a lot of nuance involved with hand positioning, but even most Thais don't really follow this if you watch closely. Still if you want to know, for people roughly the same age as you, with your palms pressed together you should slightly bow your head forward until the tips of your thumbs are at your chin.WOW! What Is Hidden in The Sand?💙 *Must-Have Beach Gadgets and Hacks For Your Summer*
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Answer 2
In some places it is rude to wai someone significantly younger than yourself. This may have been a factor as you describe a 'girl'.
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