To Wai or not to wai?
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Korkenzieher
- Guru
- Posts: 983
- Joined: Fri Mar 28, 2008 4:45 am
- Location: Hua Hin.
@OP spitfire-
I've always worked on the basic principle that a wai is deferential, so whenever there is a status difference of any kind, the 'lower' status is deferential, and initiates the wai. You do not return a wai to someone whose status would be seen as a servant - shop assistant, bar staff, taxi driver. Also, the depth of the wai (the bow depth of the head too) is greater, the higher the percieved difference. It may well be the case these days, that you could come across someone in a given situation that you would ordinarliy not wai, but might in another. For example, you might not normally wai a taxi driver, but if he just happened to be your father-in-law, it might be different.
I've always worked on the basic principle that a wai is deferential, so whenever there is a status difference of any kind, the 'lower' status is deferential, and initiates the wai. You do not return a wai to someone whose status would be seen as a servant - shop assistant, bar staff, taxi driver. Also, the depth of the wai (the bow depth of the head too) is greater, the higher the percieved difference. It may well be the case these days, that you could come across someone in a given situation that you would ordinarliy not wai, but might in another. For example, you might not normally wai a taxi driver, but if he just happened to be your father-in-law, it might be different.
Had enough of the trolls. Going to sleep. I may be some time....