การไหว้

gaan wâi

Meanings

1NounB1

the wai (greeting/respect gesture)

the act of pressing the palms together with a slight bow to greet, thank, apologize, or show respect in Thai culture.

Examples

เด็กๆdèk dèkเด็กๆdèk dèk1children; kids2childish; immature3easy; trivial (colloquial)เรียนรู้riian róoเรียนรู้riian róo[to] learn; acquire knowledgeการไหว้ทักทายgaan wâi ták taaiการไหว้ทักทายgaan wâi ták taaigreeting with a waiผู้ใหญ่pôo yàiผู้ใหญ่pôo yài1adult; grown-up2elder; respected senior3authority; person in charge4senior; adult (modifier)5adult (modifier)ที่têeที่têe1place; spot; seat; space2that/which/who (relative marker)3at; in; to (before place/recipient)4when; the time that (time marker)5ordinal/degree marker6classifier: place/seat/slotโรงเรียนrong rianโรงเรียนrong rian1school (institution)2school (building)
Children learn how to 'wai' to greet adults at school.
2NounB1

wai as homage/worship

a wai performed toward monks, Buddha images, elders, or sacred things as an act of reverence.

Examples

คุณkunคุณkun1you (polite)2Mr.; Ms.; Mrs. (title)3quality; virtue; meritยายสอนyaai sŏnยายสอนyaai sŏnGrandma Sorn (proper name/address)หลานlăanหลานlăan1grandchild2niece or nephewเรื่องrêuuangเรื่องrêuuang1matter; issue; subject2story; tale3about; regarding (as a topic marker)4classifier for stories/films/casesการไหว้gaan wâiการไหว้gaan wâi1the wai (greeting/respect gesture)2wai as homage/worshipพระpráพระprá1Buddhist monk2honorific prefix/title3divine; holy (as modifier)4Buddha image; amuletก่อนนอนgòn nonก่อนนอนgòn non1before bed; before sleeping; at bedtime2bedtime (as a modifier)
Grandmother taught her grandchild about performing a 'wai' to the Buddha image before bed.

Related Words

Word Breakdown

การgaanการgaan1nominalizer2act; action; process3affair; matterPart 1
+
ไหว้wâiไหว้wâi1[to] wai; pay respect with palms together2wai (gesture)Part 2
การไหว้gaan wâiการไหว้gaan wâithe wai (greeting/respect gesture)