THAI CULTURE & MANNERISM

Sawadee Krap

This is a module to give you an idea of the Thai

Culture and Mannerism.

This knowledge may help when you are visiting

Thailand.
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on the right to go to a particular topic.
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We hope you find this module useful.
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About
Thailand
FESTIVITIES

CULTURE

MANNERISM

Songkran

The Wai

The King

Loy Krathong

Language

The Head

Kings
Birthday

Nicknames

The Legs

Addressing
People

The Clothes

Monkhood

Physical
Contact
Gifts

THAI CULTURE & MANNERISM

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
To be able:
To explain the 5 aspects of Thai Culture
To explain the 6 aspects of Thai Mannerism

THAI CULTURE & MANNERISM

ABOUT THAILAND..
LAND AREA

: 513, 000 Sq Km

POPULATION : 65 Million
RELIGION

: Buddhism (94%)
Muslim
(4%)

CLIMATE

: Tropical

LANGUAGE

: Thai / English

CURRENCY

: Baht

TIME ZONE

: UTC + 7

MAIN SOURCE OF REVENUE : Exports

THAI CULTURE & MANNERISM

THAI FESTIVITIES SONGKRAN
Thai New Year
Also known as Water Festival
13 to 15 Apr each year
People return to Provinces

THAI CULTURE & MANNERISM

THAI FESTIVITIES LOY KRATHONG
Paying Respect to Water Spirit
Full Month of 12th Month of Thai Year
Made of Styrofoam, Banana Leaves,
Flowers and Candles

THAI CULTURE & MANNERISM

THAI FESTIVITIES KINGS BIRTHDAY
5 Dec 1927
Parade to Commemorate
World Dignitaries Invited
Country beautifully decorated
Most Business Closed

THAI CULTURE & MANNERISM

THAI CULTURE

THAI CULTURE & MANNERISM

THAILAND..

also known as
LAND OF SMILES

THAI CULTURE & MANNERISM

THE WAI
Traditional Thai Greeting
Form of Respect
Hands Pressed together, head lowered
Normal
Dignitary
Royalty

- Chest Level
- Nose Level
- Forehead Level

Offered by Junior to Senior

Wai not returned to Children, Hotel Staff,
Taxi Drivers, Waiters

THAI CULTURE & MANNERISM

THE LANGUAGE
Sentence usually ends with :
Krap for Man
Ka for Woman
Form of Politeness
5 tones
44 Consonants, 32 Vowels
Careful with pronounciation, may change
meaning if pronounced wrongly

THAI CULTURE & MANNERISM

NICKNAMES
Reflection of Sabai-Sabai (Relaxed) Culture
One Syllable
Name of Animals, Colour, Size etc
e.g. Goong
- Prawn
Daeng - Red
Lek
- Small
Used more by Woman
More commonly used than Formal
Name

THAI CULTURE & MANNERISM

ADDRESSING PEOPLE
Khun followed by Name or Nickname
e.g. Khun Andrew, Khun Nattiphol
Pii For Older or Senior Person
Nong For Younger or Junior
Person

THAI CULTURE & MANNERISM

MONKHOOD
Common for Men to serve as Monks
for 3 months
Age 20
Serve before becoming soldiers
Important Act
Must be free from debt

THAI CULTURE & MANNERISM

THAI MANNERISM

THAI CULTURE & MANNERISM

THE KING
Reign since 1946
Revered by Thais
Do not criticise the King
Do not intentionally step on Thai Coins
and notes

THAI CULTURE & MANNERISM

THE HEAD
Regarded as Most Sacred part
of body
Head deemed to be source of
Intelligence
Avoid touching
Do not use foot to point to the head
Considered Disrespectful

THAI CULTURE & MANNERISM

THE LEGS
Regarded as Unclean
Do not use feet to point at things,
especially peoples head
Remove shoes when visiting homes &
temples
Sit with feet tucked at the side or
cross-legged

THAI CULTURE & MANNERISM

THE CLOTHES
Dress Conservatively
Wrong Impression
Considered Unfriendly
Clothing from lower part of body, not
to be left in high places

THAI CULTURE & MANNERISM

PHYSICAL CONTACT
Avoid Intimacy in Public
Against Thai Etiquette
Ladies should not touch Monks

THAI CULTURE & MANNERISM

GIFTS
Avoid sharp objects
When receive sharp objects,
return coin to giver
Flowers Avoid Marigold &
Carnation
Avoid Green, Black & Blue Colour
Wrapper

THAI CULTURE & MANNERISM

IN SUMMARY
Thai Festivities
- Songkran, Loy Krathong,
Kings Birthday
Thai Culture
- The Wai, Language, Nickname,
Addressing People
Thai Mannerisms
- The King, Head, Leg, Physical Contact, Clothes and Gifts