1.3 泰国商务礼仪在线视频

Hello everyone

Welcome to the Intercultural Business Tour in Thailand

Now let’s move on to the fun part

The intercultural business etiquette

In this part we are going to talk about

the following etiquette that you should pay strong attention to

while communicating with Thai business men and women

they are

Greeting manners

Business cards

Names and titles

Emphasis on patience

Time management

Dress code

Gift giving

And Dining manners

First we all know that the Greeting Manners in Thailand

is very special

A common greeting traditionally used

is wai（泰式见面礼读作 [wâi]）

which means to put your hands together

fingertips up and head down

When you meet your Thai business contact

you are not expected to pledge a wai

but it would be an insult not to return the wai

What’s more wai gestures are offered to a person

of equal or greater status in business organisations

Those who are younger and of lesser status

are to give wai to those who are older

or with high seniority（年长 资历） first

The higher the hand is placed the more respectful it is

The word sawadee（泰语 你好 再会读作[sàwàtdiː]）means hello

which you may hear quite often said by Thais

and occasionally it also means goodbye

Women will use kah（女士用泰式敬语读音接近[ka:]）

and men will use krap（男士用泰式敬语，读音接近[ka]）

So when being introduced to your Thai business partners

you say sawadee kah if you are female

or sawadee krap if you are male

Learning how to greet Thai people

as the locals do will create a positive first impression

which plays a crucial role

in business greetings and introductions

Business cards

Now let’s talk a little bit about business cards

In Thailand business cards are also a sacred part

of its business etiquette（礼节）

As in many Asian countries

a lot of importance is placed on business cards

A high-quality business card is an important asset（有利条件）

in Thailand and should be exchanged

when initiated by the host

When you receive a business card

it is important to read

and then place it carefully in your wallet

Likewise your own business card should be offered

to the most senior person in a meeting

before anyone else and it is imperative that cards be given

and received with the right hand

This card-exchanging process also states your position

within your company

so that your Thai business counterparts（对等职位之人）

understand your place

within the company hierarchy（等级制度）

Another thing we need to pay attention to is names

and titles used in Thai business scenarios

In Thai business names are generally used

with the honorific（敬语的）

Khun（泰式敬称通常放在名字前读音接近[kʌn]）

before the name

for both men and women

Just as the same case in most English speaking countries in Thailand

first name refers to one’s given name

while last name refers to one’s family name

It’s important to note that Thais tend to use first names

rather than last names even when using Mr and Miss

so you can expect to be addressed（称谓）

by your first name even in business situations

Nicknames are common in Thailand

If you are close acquaintances and friends

with your Thai business partners

you can use their nicknames instead

of first names to show familiarity（亲切熟悉）

This is because nicknames are a big part

of Thai culture and almost everyone will have one

So feel free to call your Thai business partners

by their nicknames once you

become more comfortable with them

However you should avoid being too familiar

in business meetings or with people who are much higher

in the company hierarchy than you

Okay now I want to call your attention

to the important rule of doing business with Thais

Patience

Thais are generally not very decisive decision makers

and often need to consult several people

before making a decision

Therefore

it is unlikely that any decisions will be made

on a first meeting

and will probably require several business meetings

This can be a slow and somewhat painful

process especially for foreigners

but it is inevitable

Thus patience has become an essential quality

when it comes to conduct business negotiations

with Thais and impatience should be avoided in business settings

since it will also be seen as a sign of weakness

The next thing to notice is time management

Punctuality (守时) is appreciated and as foreigner business contacts

you are expected to arrive on time

to meetings and social gatherings

Therefore

it is advisable to check the traffic situation

in large cities especially in Bangkok

as regular traffic jams and roadworks can cause severe delays

While you are expected to arrive on time

meetings may not always start on time

Furthermore meetings are rarely timed and tend to run overtime

as the whole meeting procedure will be strictly completed

regardless of less or more content

and is considered a rather important part of meetings

In formal situations

it is better to arrive a few minutes earlier

for a meeting rather than just on time

If you are just on time

or even a minute or two late for a meeting

it may be viewed as extremely unprofessional

Next

what to wear and how to wear

is also very important in Thai business occasions

Although the business outfit is not strictly formal

it is important to wear suitable attire (服装)

when invited to formal business meetings in Thailand

because that will allow you to be taken seriously

by your Thai business partners

As for businessmen

conservative coloured suits with shirt and tie are appropriate

Jackets would be a nice addition

especially for meetings with senior partners

As for business women

long trousers or a skirt that is long enough

to cover the knees and a blouse or shirt are appropriate

Tight fitting and sleeveless（无袖的）

clothes should be avoided

Shoes need to be taken off in some offices and most homes

therefore it is a good idea to wear shoes

that are easy to slip on and off

Smart casual（时尚休闲装） is acceptable

for business entertaining events

Gift giving is very crucial while doing business with Thais

Giving gifts to your business partners

is highly encouraged in Thailand

but there are certain rules to follow

It is important to both give and receive gifts

with your right hand

As for proper gifts bringing something small

from your own country such as food or alcohol

is a good idea

It is considered rude to open a gift in the presence

of the gift giver

so you must wait until you are back

in your hotel before you open it

Thai people love their food and enjoy hospitality

so if you are invited to a business talk in a restaurant

make sure you accept the invitation

However there are certain rules that you must follow

It is important to wait to be seated by your host

as the most senior person usually sits at the head of the table

Shoes must be removed

when you are invited to enter a home or restaurant

Most kinds of Thai food are eaten with a fork

and a tablespoon（汤匙）rather than with chopsticks（筷子）

The spoon is held in the right hand

and the bottom of the fork pushes the food into the spoon

Only some exclusive food is eaten

with your fingers and make sure you use your right hand

Unless you are extremely hungry

otherwise don’t clear your plate

since a clear plate is a sign

that you are still hungry and it will be refilled

Pay close attention to dining etiquette

will earn your Thai business partners a good impression

See you next time bye bye