For most everyday greetings, press your palms together near your chest and give a small bow of the head, you’ll see this returned in kind by most people you meet.
For monks or much older/senior people, a slightly higher hand position and deeper bow shows more respect. As a visitor, a simple, sincere wai is enough, precision matters far less than the gesture itself.
There are roughly three recognized levels, if you want the fuller picture:
- Chin level, gentle nod — for friends and people around your own age or status.
- Nose level, deeper bow — for elders, teachers, and people of clearly higher status.
- Forehead level, deepest bow — reserved for monks and royalty; a monk will typically not return your wai, a nod or quiet blessing is their normal response.
You don’t need to initiate a wai with children, or with service staff in casual settings like a barista or taxi driver, a smile and a nod covers those interactions fine.