How to be a Good Host in Thai Culture

Do you know what Thai people expect from a good host? In this lesson, you’ll discover how to welcome Thai guests into your home: offering a seat, water and food, inviting them to eat with you, preparing somewhere to sleep, and sending gifts home for their family. You’ll also find out why cleaning the house while guests are there can feel like asking them to leave, and why asking a guest to pay for their food would come as a real shock.

Thai Vocabulary:
เจ้าของบ้าน (jâo-kɔ̌ɔng bâan) – Host / Homeowner
เจ้าภาพ (jâo-pâap) – Host of an event
ขาดตกบกพร่อง (kàat-tòk bòk-prɔ̂ng) – Shortcomings / Anything lacking
ไล่แขก (lâi kɛ̀ɛk) – To chase guests away
ของฝาก (kɔ̌ɔng-fàak) – Gift / Souvenir

Whether you live in Thailand or have Thai friends abroad, these customs will help you make every guest feel truly welcome.

Advanced Alcohol Birthday Celebration Cleaning Culture Disability Drinks Etiquette Family Feelings Food Friends Gifts Graduation Guests Home Hospitality Money Ordination Party Sleep Story Wedding

Up next

Anklet

Why might wearing an anklet in Thailand raise a few eyebrows? This lesson looks at the history of jewelry in Thai culture. It starts with the bracelets and anklets with tiny bells given to newborn babies, and how anklets were once used to show whether a woman was single, engaged or married. Next, discover why some older Thai people disapprove of anklets today, what it means to interfere in someone’s personal life, and why fewer people wear gold in public than they used to. Thai Vocabulary: กำไลข้อเท้า (gam-lai kâw táao) – Anklet กระพรวน (grà-pruan) – Small bell ก้าวก่าย (gâao-gàai) – To interfere / Meddle ล่อตาโจร (lâw dtaa john) – To attract thieves รวยเงียบ (ruay ngîap) – Quiet luxury

How to be a Good Host in Thai Culture

Comments (0)