Ducking in Between People When Walking

You’ll frequently observe a common interaction when visiting Thailand, particularly in densely populated areas like shopping malls or workplaces. When someone needs to walk between a group of two or more people, they will slightly duck down to acknowledge the interruption and offer an apology.

The ducking serves as a physical apology, but it is not uncommon for some Thai people to further demonstrate their politeness by offering a verbal apology. They do this to acknowledge that they may have momentarily blocked someone’s vision of the other person in the group. This courteous gesture reflects their respect for others and consideration for any inconvenience caused by the interruption.

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