Understanding “Sanook–Smile” Things You Need To Know
If you spend any time at all in Thailand, you’re bound to hear the word “sanook” or see it on shops, in restaurants, on television, on billboards – throughout the country.
Even though we Thais share an old, conservative, and conventional culture, we are also committed to enjoying life and we love to laugh. “Sanook” is hard to translate, but it’s the spirit of fun behind almost everything we do – as well as the way we preserve harmony, relieve tension, and help people keep “face” in spite of difficult circumstances.
Sanook is a shared sense of play, amusement, and joy that occurs among people. It can be spontaneous – the quick, spontaneous flash of humor shared by a group – or more formal, like the humor we find in theater, television, or advertising.
We Thais love spontaneous expressions of sanook. People who are quick- witted and clever enough to find just the right thing to say at just the right time to make everyone laugh are dear to us. They help us keep life in perspective. They help us alleviate stress. The right funny response to an awkward situation helps everybody involved save face.
But more than just laughter, sanook is a cultural ritual in Thailand that can puzzle Westerners. For example, if you’re working on your car and you bang your head while crawling out from under it, your first reaction might be to swear. Your Thai friends’ first reaction will be to laugh. Or if you’re walking upstairs with arms full of groceries and your shopping bag bursts, spilling oranges down two flights of stairs, you’ll react with frustration – maybe even anger. Your Thai friends will laugh.
That laughter is sanook. It’s a way of dealing with the “stuff” that happens in life that’s like old-fashioned slapstick comedy. Your Thai friends are not laughing to ridicule you. They’re not laughing because it’s funny your head is bleeding or your oranges have come to rest two flights below. They’re laughing to help you keep your dignity. They’re laughing to relieve the tension, stress, and frustration. They’re laughing to help keep the group in balance. They’re laughing at the wonders of “now.” And they’re laughing as a way to avoid the discomfort of conflict or confrontation.
When you embarrass yourself in Thailand (and you will), be prepared to laugh. And realize that the laughter of sanook is often a much healthier response.
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