“Ni hao” or not? Why Thais sometimes feel belittled
A viral video recently sparked a heated debate about cultural sensitivity in Thailand. The footage shows Siranath Bhiromphakdee, a national park advisor in Krabi, confronting a Russian couple who were visiting a closed island without permission. When the man is told that this is forbidden, he responds with a flippant “ni hao.” Siranath is not happy about it.
He becomes enraged, declares their visit over, and warns that repeating the greeting could lead to deportation. Siranath, an environmental activist and member of the influential Singha family, posted the video on Facebook and gave his views in English. His message was clear: not distinguishing between Thailand and China is not only disrespectful, but racist.
Why a simple greeting can go wrong
At first glance, “ni hao” seems like an innocent greeting. However, context can make all the difference. Especially in Western countries, Asians are often lumped together. A Thai who is greeted with “ni hao” often experiences it as a denial of their own culture – as if all of Asia has one people and one language.
In Thailand itself, this greeting can also be sensitive. Westerners sometimes think that Thais are Chinese, simply because of their appearance or background. Or they are not aware that Thailand has its own language and culture. Sometimes laziness plays a role: people assume that Chinese is the 'standard language' in Asia, like English is in the West.
Underlying fear of Chinese dominance
The sensitivity around “ni hao” is heightened by the growing Chinese influence in Thailand. Many Thais see their country becoming increasingly dependent on China, economically, touristically and culturally. In that context, a Chinese greeting feels like an affirmation of that dominance.
The situation in the video made it extra painful. It was a violation of the rules, and on top of that a cultural misstep followed. For some, that is enough to set the flames in motion.
The importance of cultural nuance
Not every Thai will be bothered by “ni hao”, just as not every Westerner finds the word “farang” offensive. Still, it is good to be aware of these differences. Especially as a guest in another country, it is important to empathize with local sensitivities.
The Thai government – from the Ministry of Culture to the Tourism Authority – could contribute by promoting the use of the Thai word “sawasdee” more. This would not only strengthen their own identity, but also the hospitality that Thailand is known for.
Closing comments
A single word can seem innocent, but in the wrong context it can have a big impact. Anyone who travels or interacts with other cultures should ask themselves what a greeting really means. After all, respect starts with attention, even for the smallest details.
Source: Khaosod
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When I am in Brazil and assume that people speak Spanish, I quickly get into trouble. Brazilians are very sensitive to this. English is accepted, but often not appreciated because of the "gringos" from the US.
And if you were to greet people in the Netherlands with “Heil”, that would not be appreciated either.
So why should a Thai person accept it if you greet him in Chinese in a derogatory manner?
Now maybe they know what it is they say to every foreign Farang….
I had a good laugh about this cultural misstep, Man, man is it so hard for this advisor to say that we are in Thailand. Further but without words.
People are unfortunately good at lumping an entire continent, or several, together. Asians are then quickly all Chinese and whites are then quickly all American… The question is, do you greet someone for fun or do you really want to have a conversation? There is nothing wrong with greeting them and having a conversation in Chinese if you think they have a Chinese person in front of you. But if you are in Thailand, most people there will… Thai — okay, or Lao/Isaan, Chinese roots and so on, but assume they speak Thai. If you don't speak a word across the border, say the local language, whether it's 'sawatdee', 'bonjour' or 'hallo', and then switch to a world language.
But to greet people like this for fun and schadenfreude? Then stay home
It is certainly disrespectful to say “Ni hao” to a Thai, but calling every foreigner a farang is also not very nice.
It is a well-established fact that the word is derived from 'Frank', a word that originally referred to a Germanic-speaking people in present-day France.
Nevertheless, this term was also widely used in medieval Greece, Egypt and other Mediterranean areas, where it was generally attributed to Western European peoples. In addition, similar expressions can be found in other languages. For example, there is the Persian 'farang', the Hindi 'farengi/farangi', the Tamil 'pirangi', the Arabic 'frangi' and the Polynesian 'palangi'. These terms all sound very similar and point to a common origin.
The Thai word 'farang' was actually borrowed from Muslim Persian and Indian traders during the Ayutthaya period (1350-1767). At that time, the term referred to the Portuguese, the first Europeans to visit Siam. Later, the term became a general Thai word for other Europeans and eventually for all white people in general. Furthermore, 'farang' describes the West in general. Thailand's neighbours Cambodia ('barang') and Laos ('falang') also have the term. (Article in Phuket news)
If you don't speak the local language, English is the most obvious world language, perhaps also unknown to this Russian and his wife.
The Thai man most likely blew this up for his own interests after reading two articles in the same newspaper Khaosod.
A contracter and influencer who has already been fired for a year.
In addition to the editorial opinion [subject], it is sometimes wise to read the article [the source].
The government is rushing to make up for its mistake after disappointing tourists from “ni hao” land
Also read this one from the same newspaper https://ap.lc/ZDBrG
And yes, Peter[ed] and the article touch on another irritation, how Westerners are called.
My idea is, ladies and gentlemen Thailand experts, stop that childish nonsense of calling yourself 'Farang' in a Dutch message, you are a foreigner.
Now the Thai with her long toes.
A mix of exaggerated pride/nationalism, frustrations about the class difference that they themselves diligently maintain, a good dash of racism, anthropentrism programmed in education and by the government (Thai and the Thai language are at the center of the world) and fear of losing face. That is how you unfortunately get the above hallucinatory situation.
No, dear Rudy. Don't just say something. Anthrocentrism does not exist. Anthropocentrism does: the idea that man is the center of existence, (the bad consequences of which are becoming clearer by the day!). Perhaps you mean: ethnocentrism; setting one's own culture as the norm. But then there are many examples conceivable. Or perhaps use less of these kinds of terms in your comments? Although: it does look funny. Incidentally, the argument you put forward applies to almost all cultures, and Thailand is of course no exception. In that case, you have kicked in an open door.
Yes dear Gerard, you are right. 1. Because I usually do not edit my own texts, the letters 'oc' fell out of the word anthropocentrism. 2. Indeed: the idea that the (Thai) human is the center of existence. 3. Where one lives in the illusion that their culture is the norm. The examples
and their terrible consequences are legion in world history. So it could do no harm
to pay some attention to it ourselves and also in Thai education. Ethnocentrism is a part of social studies such as sociology
and anthropology. You conveniently keep that door closed
to be able to ignore the facts. For example, read the previous topics of the editors (with bibliography) about pride and nationalism and the possible bad restrictions for their place in the world (such as access to the global labor market). You like to praise the Thai people (and there are many reasons for that) but realize that precisely because of the two terms quoted, that is not mutual at all.
Dear Rudy, you are going too far. Don't do it. No need for that. Where would I keep 'sociological' or 'anthropological' doors closed? I haven't even 'held the doorknob in my hand'. Where do I praise the Thai people, if my previous reaction was only a second in a row, and only aimed at your unedited remarks? You hate Thailand, that much is clear, but don't lash out so childishly when someone tells you that. It's not all as black and white as you imagine. After all, your people also suffer from pride and nationalism, and have a minimal place in the world. Doesn't there also exist an aversion to neighbours, migrants and newcomers there? Don't you yourself suffer from illusionary falsifications?
I hate any form of excessive nationalism. That's why I also use my country as an example. I sometimes have a deep dislike for Thailand, yes (which expat doesn't, honestly?), just for example because of their ethnocentrism. And for myself because of many of my illusionary ideas that I had about that country. I had to adjust those. Also because I have seen many people around me ruined by that country, financially and mentally. Mostly rose-colored glasses. Even to the point of a harrowing suicide. 's A
That evening his darling went to celebrate in a discotheque and the house had already been emptied.
. 'He good man' and that he was in my opinion
in my opinion also real.. These are of course colored experiences (with perhaps additional environmental factors at the time) but they were no less hard for that. I try (just like my Thai partner also tries) to objectify Thailand. He and I still go there when the family pressure really calls after years. Apparently few understand (perhaps due to irony and sarcasm/the nature of my beast) that it is my intention to nuance the predominantly idolatrous attitude towards Thailand as a counterbalance. OK, I am the black glasses against the rose-colored glasses, then so be it. The truth to the extent that it exists (Buddha) lies somewhere in the middle, as always. And 'what can I know' (Kant) and 'what do I know?' (Montaigne) I also keep in mind. There is already enough 'nonsense' (read ignorance) to read here (the editors themselves sometimes let slip). But I still believe that things will improve in Thailand and the rest of the world. But then from a certain pragmatism and not from an ivory tower. Perhaps another illusion. Thailand and no country is a paradise. Perhaps
that statement comes pretty close to being true.
When I once sailed under a bridge in a rented boat in Giethoorn with a group of Thai ladies, Ni hao ni hao also sounded from the bridge. A group of young country bumpkins, teenagers had apparently learned something from the many Chinese tourists there. My Thai company just had to laugh about it. They did shout upstairs that they were Thai.
What the Thai sometimes forget in that whole national story is that the almost centuries of immigration of mainly Chinese and Laotians (many provinces in Isaan) does not make them as 'pure' or unique as they would like. Just listen to the numerous loan words and other linguistic discoveries in their world language. Just like Belgium is a hotchpotch of the (of for example political 'mistakes) in history. But yes... education ....
What the Thais sometimes forget in that whole nationalistic story is that the almost centuries-long immigration of mainly Chinese and Laotians (many provinces in Isaan) does not make them as 'pure' or unique as they would like. Just listen to the numerous loan words and other linguistic discoveries in their world language. And let's not forget their collaboration with the Japanese in WWII (2 dead during the construction of the Thai-Burmese railway. Also Belgium is a hotchpotch of (for example political) 'mistakes' in history. But yes... education ....