Thailand is often referred to as “The Land of Smiles.” It got this nickname because in Thailand, a smile is much more than just a smile…it is a form of subtle interpersonal-messaging. There are at least 13 different smiles that a Thai person may use, each one having a very specific meaning.
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” or “I’m proud of you” smile.
Fuen Yim: The stiff smile, also known as the “I should laugh at the joke even though it’s not funny” smile.
Yim mee lessanai: The smile which masks something wicked, such as bad intent.
Yim yaw: The teasing, or “I told you so” smile.
Yim yae-yae: The “I know things look pretty bad but there’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 owe you the money, but I don’t have it” smile.
Yim thak thaan: The “I disagree with you” smile, also known as the “You can go ahead and propose it but your idea’s no good” smile.
Yim cheuad-cheuan: The “I am the winner” smile; a smile given to a losing competitor.
Yim soo: The “smiling in the face of an impossible struggle” smile.
Yim mai awk: The “I’m trying to smile, but can’t” smile.