Land of Smiles: Thailand

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A friend of ours who is a farang (the Thai term for "foreigner") was recently traveling with a Thai friend in some remote areas of Southern Thailand. Soon it was pretty clear that they were both lost. The farang, quite concerned and frowning by this time, turned to his partner, who was grinning. "What are you smiling for?" he demanded. "Well," said the Thai, "if you don't smile, can you find the way out any easier?

—anonymous

Land of Smiles is a description of Thailand that was coined many years ago by visitors and later immortalized in the opening paragraphs of numerous tourist guidebooks. The more complicated story, which we are often not told, is that Thailand is in fact a land of numerous smiles — and not all of them so happy as often supposed by newly arriving visitors.

Indeed, the Thais boast an elaborate array of facial expressions under the general category of Yim, or “smiling.” Consider, for example, just two: The “dry” smile (yim haeng) and the “smile in the face of an impossible struggle” (yim soo). Neither of them are very cheerful to the Thais who recognize such messages for what they are. But these are only two of the more than dozens of varieties of smiles which are employed regularly by Thais in critical situations. Yet such smiles are frequently interpreted by farangs as expressions of foolishness or even insolence. The different interpretations of smiling behavior may lead to problems, particularly if the situation in which they occur involves stress or tension.

Many of the smiles which Thais employ in uncomfortable or distressing situations are used as “social cosmetics.” They are intended to relieve tension, an effort to preserve the relationship, the social harmony which people depend upon for getting things done over the long run. In this category of “social cosmetic” smiles, we find expressions of embarrassment, shame, remorse, tension, fear — sometimes, even sadness. A long time Western resident in Asia, recognizing the Thai smiles for what they are, suggested that they sometimes do more to improve a bad situation than the “wrinkled brow” approach he was accustomed to using at home.

Thais, on the other hand, should be aware that when a work situation is serious, expatriate workers have a different expectation of how one should behave. They feel much more reassured by a serious facial expression than by smiles. In such situations, Westerners feel more comfortable with their own familiar signs of concern, regret, acceptance, or commitment.

[edit] Specific Thai smiles

  • Yim thang nam taa: The “I’m-so happy- I’m-crying” smile
  • Yim thak thaai: The polite smile for someone you barely know
  • Yim cheun chom: The “I-admire-you” smile
  • Fuen Yim: The stiff — also known as the — “I-hould-laugh-at-the-joke-though-it’s-not-funny”

smile

  • Yim mee lessanai: The smile which masks something wicked in your mind
  • Yim yaw: The teasing, or “I-told-you-so” smile
  • Yim yae-yae: The “I-know-things-look-pretty-badbutthere’s-no-point-in-crying over-spilt-milk”

smile

  • Yim sao: The sad smile
  • Yim haeng: The dry smile, also known as the “I-know-I-oweyou-the-money-but-I-don’t-have-it”

smile

  • Yim thak thaan: The “I-disagree-with-you” smile.
  • Yim cheua-cheuan: The “I-am-the-winner” smile, the smile given to a losing competitor
  • Yim soo: The “smile-in-the-face-of an-impossiblestruggle” smile
  • Yim mai awk: The “I’m-trying-to-smile-but-Ican’t” smile --