Greetings

Hello

                                           ↓         ↓

There are two greetings, sa-wad-dii for stationary or formal greetings and              ↶

pai nai? for in formal, on the street greetings. Thai usually don't shake 

                                       ↷

hands when we meet, we wai, which is done by pressing the palms together 

                                                             ↷

and holding them at about nose level. The wai is a gesture of respect and is 

also used for paying respect to Buddha statues and shrines. As a greeting it's 

used mostly with people who should be shown courtesy or respect, such as the 

                                                                                 ↷                               ↷

parents of friends, monks, and professors. Don't wai children unless they wai  

                                                  ↷

you first then you receive by wai

                                                          ↓    ↓          ↷
          Hello. (said by a woman)            Sa-wad-dii kha                 สวัสดีค่ะ

                                                           ↓    ↓          ↷
          Hello. (said by a man)                Sa-wad-dii khrab              สวัสดีครับ


Note

 ↓     ↓          ↷     ↷
Sa-wad-dii khrab/kha is a formal greeting which can be used at any time of the day. Unlike


English, Thai does not use a different greeting form for different periods of the day.

  ↓    ↓
Sa-wad-dii can also mean 'goodbye'.


             

Where are you going?

                                                                                             ↶                   ↶ 

In reality, Thai usually ask 'Where are you going?' - Pai nai?  or Pai nai maa? 'Where have you been?' to start talking to someone. This is an informal greeting you hear in Thailand and no response is needed. When someone ask you, you can answer as below;

                                                           ↶
Q: Where are you going?                 Pai nai?                         ไปไหน
                                                           ↶
    Where have you been?                Pai nai maa?                  ไปไหนมา

                                                                                 ↷
          A: I'm going out/traveling around.                Pai thiaw                   ไปเที่ยว
                                                                                       ↷
              I'm going to eat.                                    Pai gin khaaw             ไปกินข้าว
                                                                            ↓    ↷
              I'm going home.                                    Glab baan                   กลับบ้าน
                                                                               ↶       ↷
              I'm going to see a friend.                       Pai haa phüan           ไปหาเพื่อน
                                                                                 ↑       ↶
              I'm going shopping.                               Pai süü khววng        ไปซื้อของ
                                                                                 ↑  ↑
              I'm going for a business.                        Pai thu-ra                    ไปธุระ