Thread: Thais and their smiles

I had a bit of a run in with this Thai kid earlier tonight and it really got to me. I won't go into the details but he gave me this really sarcastic smile and I was all for beating shit out of him.
Anyways the missus (bless her) calmed me down and tried to explain that the kid didn't do wrong. But I couldn't get over the smarmy little cnuts smile. So I came home to learn more about the Thai smile. I was amazed. There's at least 13 ways in which they smile.

The 13 Smiles Of Thailand

1. Yim yaw / ยิ้มเยาะ

This smile can be used in two ways: Firstly, when teasing someone, and secondly when wanting to express the words “I told you so”, without actually having to be so harsh.
2. Yim cheun chom / ยิ้มชื่นชม

This smile is a controlled yet beautiful smile that expresses the words, “I admire you”, or, I’m proud of you”.
3. Yim mai awk / ยิ้มไม่ออก

This is the smile used when concealing difficult emotion. It’s the “I’m trying my best to smile but can’t struggling” smile. This might be used when someone is broken hearted or physically hurt.
4. Yim mee lessanai / ยิ้มมีเลสนัย

This is a devious smile that masks bad intent. If you really upset your Thai partner, you should probably worry if you get this smile in return!
5. Yim cheua-cheua / ยิ้มเชือดเชือน

Similar to Yim mer lessanai, but more the “Mwhahaha” bad guy smile. This would be used by a person who has gotten the upper hand over someone else.
6. Yim dor thaan / ยิ้มต่อต้าน

This smile indicates that you disagree but will entertain the idea or go along with the action regardless. It’s the “You can go ahead but this smile lets you know I disagree and that your idea isn’t a good one” smile.
7. Yim sao / ยิ้มเศร้า

This is the standard smile of sadness, one that indicates someone really isn’t happy.
8. Yim haeng / ยิ้มแห้ง

This is the dry smile, also known as the “I know I owe you the money but I don’t have it” smile.
9. Yim suu suu! / ยิ้มซื่อซื่อ

This is the smile of encouragement, the “You/I can do it” smile.
10. Yim yoh-yae / ยิ้มเหยาะแหยะ

This smile is the Thai equivalent to suggesting that it’s not worth getting upset over something that seems pretty bad, but has happened and can’t be changed.In essence, it’s the “no point in crying over spilt milk” smile.
11. Yim thang nam taa / ยิ้มทั้งน้ำตา

This smile must be interpreted in context, as it can mean two different things. On one hand it can mean “I’m so happy I’m crying inside”, and on the other, given different circumstances, “I’m so sad inside, but I’m still smiling”.
12. Fuen Yim / ฝืนยิ้ม

This is the “mai jing jai” (literally translated as ‘not real heart’) smile. It’s a stiff and somewhat fake smile. For example, “I should laugh at the joke, but it’s not funny, so I’ll do this smile instead and help you move on”.
13. Yim thak thaai / ยิ้มทักทาย

This is the smile of convenience, a polite smile that enables you to acknowledge someone you don’t know that well, or someone you aren’t going to get into a long conversation with. It’s pretty much the most common smile you’ll get when out and about in Thailand.
** Taak thaai means to say hello.

Find Out What's Behind A Thai Smile? All 13 Of Them!)

So which smile did the lad give you, Pragmatic?

And I thought the tonal language was tough.....

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FFS Prag, mellow out.

^

Nice that.

As far as the smiles go, I do not give 1 fuk if they are real or put on, It matters not to me.

Smiles are good, much better than some sad soap dodger getting around lookin sad as fuk.

You out there Thegent.

No no, every smile is one of serene, Buddhist happiness, love and devotion to goodness.

Now Ziggy really sang, screwed up eyes and screwed down hairdo
Like some cat from Japan, he could lick 'em by smiling
He could leave 'em to hang

They don't mention the 'I'm spending your money and shagging your wife, farang' smile.

Originally Posted by blue

Now Ziggy really sang, screwed up eyes and screwed down hairdo
Like some cat from Japan, he could lick 'em by smiling
He could leave 'em to hang

.....and less we forget - the sincere Thainess [while we screw you over] smile.

The Thai smile I hate is the one where they nearly kill you on their Motobikes .... you screech to a halt because they have pulled out without looking and they turn and give you that smile

They left out the smile that they give when they've fucked up and been caught out.

its up to the individual to decipher the smile, if its a shit eater or smarmy smile, smack em in the gob from the get go, then get out of dodge before the gunplay

Originally Posted by Pragmatic

I had a bit of a run in with this Thai kid earlier tonight and it really got to me. I won't go into the details but he gave me this really sarcastic smile and I was all for beating shit out of him.
Anyways the missus (bless her) calmed me down and tried to explain that the kid didn't do wrong. But I couldn't get over the smarmy little cnuts smile. So I came home to learn more about the Thai smile. I was amazed. There's at least 13 ways in which they smile.

The 13 Smiles Of Thailand

1. Yim yaw / ยิ้มเยาะ

This smile can be used in two ways: Firstly, when teasing someone, and secondly when wanting to express the words “I told you so”, without actually having to be so harsh.
2. Yim cheun chom / ยิ้มชื่นชม

This smile is a controlled yet beautiful smile that expresses the words, “I admire you”, or, I’m proud of you”.
3. Yim mai awk / ยิ้มไม่ออก

This is the smile used when concealing difficult emotion. It’s the “I’m trying my best to smile but can’t struggling” smile. This might be used when someone is broken hearted or physically hurt.
4. Yim mee lessanai / ยิ้มมีเลสนัย

This is a devious smile that masks bad intent. If you really upset your Thai partner, you should probably worry if you get this smile in return!
5. Yim cheua-cheua / ยิ้มเชือดเชือน

Similar to Yim mer lessanai, but more the “Mwhahaha” bad guy smile. This would be used by a person who has gotten the upper hand over someone else.
6. Yim dor thaan / ยิ้มต่อต้าน

This smile indicates that you disagree but will entertain the idea or go along with the action regardless. It’s the “You can go ahead but this smile lets you know I disagree and that your idea isn’t a good one” smile.
7. Yim sao / ยิ้มเศร้า

This is the standard smile of sadness, one that indicates someone really isn’t happy.
8. Yim haeng / ยิ้มแห้ง

This is the dry smile, also known as the “I know I owe you the money but I don’t have it” smile.
9. Yim suu suu! / ยิ้มซื่อซื่อ

This is the smile of encouragement, the “You/I can do it” smile.
10. Yim yoh-yae / ยิ้มเหยาะแหยะ

This smile is the Thai equivalent to suggesting that it’s not worth getting upset over something that seems pretty bad, but has happened and can’t be changed.In essence, it’s the “no point in crying over spilt milk” smile.
11. Yim thang nam taa / ยิ้มทั้งน้ำตา

This smile must be interpreted in context, as it can mean two different things. On one hand it can mean “I’m so happy I’m crying inside”, and on the other, given different circumstances, “I’m so sad inside, but I’m still smiling”.
12. Fuen Yim / ฝืนยิ้ม

This is the “mai jing jai” (literally translated as ‘not real heart’) smile. It’s a stiff and somewhat fake smile. For example, “I should laugh at the joke, but it’s not funny, so I’ll do this smile instead and help you move on”.
13. Yim thak thaai / ยิ้มทักทาย

This is the smile of convenience, a polite smile that enables you to acknowledge someone you don’t know that well, or someone you aren’t going to get into a long conversation with. It’s pretty much the most common smile you’ll get when out and about in Thailand.
** Taak thaai means to say hello.

Find Out What's Behind A Thai Smile? All 13 Of Them!)

To be fair, don't people of all cultures employ the vast majority of these?

^^ & ^^^ Now, those are the ones I associate only with Thailand

In one of those know it all Thai books written by Farangs for cheerful reading about the Land of Smiles, apparently according to the Author, Thais can have a whole conversation, just through smiles .

Indeed, most societies have myriad smiles to express an entire range of emotions and meanings and,unlike the Thai, probably stretch to more than a mere 13.

There is one smile though which most other societies don't use which in my experience is quintessentially Thai and that is the gormless smile when they face a complaint from an angry farang with a serious grievance and which is usually only used in western society by a total cretin.

But the one smile that one never ever sees played out on the cheeks of a Thai is that fixed, rueful smile of someone admitting personal fault for a fuck up.

That's because they never fk up, it's you that screwed up, but their again,it's about right, because just like with any women anywhere, it is the Husbands fault.

Originally Posted by terry57

^



Smiles are good, much better than some sad soap dodger getting around lookin sad as fuk.

You out there Thegent.

I'm with you Tel

Much better a smile than a scowling pomme

Originally Posted by thaimeme

FFS Prag, mellow out.

I have my good days. But yesterday was a downer.

Originally Posted by Neverna

So which smile did the lad give you, Pragmatic?

From the list I don't know but all I can say is it was very sarcastic.

Originally Posted by boloa

The Thai smile I hate is the one where they nearly kill you on their Motobikes .... you screech to a halt because they have pulled out without looking and they turn and give you that smile

Thank you Boloa. That's the smile this little cnut pulled on me. And yes he did it after pulling out on me on his motorcycle. Which one in the list is that?

After too long in Toiletland the memory of those fake smiles still haunt me. Something zombie-like.....insidiously evil

Their smile can be accompanied with a machete. I'll take Englandistan misery guts' every day; at least it's real.

Thais when dealing with tourists/Farangs will tell you whatever you want to hear and smile whenever they feel they will garner an advantage from it, ....total bullshit and lapped up by silly fools in some strange romantic "Lonely Planets" dream...

Used car salesmen back home always smile.....