Thumbs up in Thailand means looking down. In China, extending a thumbs up indicates approval and awesomeness to others. But in Thailand, thumbs up means looking down. So in Thailand, no matter how much you want to praise him/her, please keep your thumbs away. The same gesture has different meanings in different countries. Be careful when traveling to Thailand. If you do it wrong, you will be beaten.
Other gestures:
1. Extend your thumb and little finger
In China, this gesture represents the number 6 or making a phone call. In Thailand, extending your thumb and little finger means saying that the other person is stupid. When you want to call a Thai person, don't make this gesture, or the other person will fall out.
2. Extend your little finger
In China, the little finger represents the youngest, the smallest and weakest one, which means that the other person is weak and incapable. In Thailand, it means that each other is friends, or is willing to make friends. So when a Thai makes this gesture to you, it’s not that he looks down on you, but that he wants to be friends with you.
3. Raise the middle three fingers together
Although this gesture is not commonly used, it is often seen in domestic movies and TV dramas. It is a gesture used when swearing. But in Thailand, this gesture represents opposition and dissatisfaction.
4. Curved index finger
This gesture is 100% lethal. In China, a bent index finger only represents the number nine, but in Thailand, this gesture represents death.