Observing that in our current Cambodian society, mutual respect has departed from virtue. The price and the beautiful style of the Khmer ancestors, so I will mention the Khmer salutation method published here by Hope every Cambodian child will be satisfied and follow it. On the other hand, I observed that not only Cambodian TV presenters, even Cambodian leaders did not salute properly. Also, it is done stubbornly, as if in a hurry to die !!!
SAMPEAH
Khmer people raise their hands in salute by raising both hands in a lotus shape because the Cambodian people practice Buddhism.
The Khmer show of salutation or mutual recognition is to raise both hands, join palm to palm, like the lotus.
Chest height CHEST
People of the same age or merit, or friends, should raise their hands to greet each other with their hands to their chests. .
People of the equal age or friend or rank ought to respect each other by placing the budding lotus hands at the chest.
MOUTH MOUTH
Those who are inferior or younger should salute those who are higher or older should raise their hands with their fingertips. At the mouth, those who are of high rank or older must salute back with their hands raised to the height of their chests.
A younger person or lower in rank ought to respect an older person or higher in rank by placing the budding lotus hands at the mouth.
NOSE
Children salute their parents, grandchildren salute their grandmother, students salute their teacher, they should raise their hands and put their fingers to the tip of their noses.
Children and grandchildren or students to respect their parents and grandparents or teacher by placing the budding lotus hands at the nose.
EYEBROW
For the worship of monks, the sacred object worships the King.
Summary
Chest height: For peers or friends
Mouth height: older than the rank or boss
Nose height: Parents, grandparents or teachers
Height: King, monk or relic
The height of the eyebrows: Deva, Indra, Brahma or praying.
The Sampeah is a Cambodian traditionally greeting style or way of showing respect. While performing the salutation or mutual recognition “Sampeah”, people have to raise both hands, places our palms together in the lotus-like fashion while bowing slightly. The word often spoken with the Sampeah when greeting to somebody is Chumreap Suor, while Chumreap Lea is spoken when saying goodbye.
Sampeah
Although the Sampeah is a form of greeting, it is also a common way to say thanks or apologize and is an important part of Khmer culture which is heavily influenced by Indian Hindu/Buddhist culture. There are five level of greeting in Cambodian culture include: forehead level (praying, Deva, Brahma, God, Buddha), eyebrow level (King, Monks, Sacred Objects), nose level (Parents, Grandparents, Teachers), mouth level (Bosses, Older persons, Higher rank persons) and chest level (Friends or same-age persons).
Chest Level: People of the equal age or friend or rank ought to respect each other by placing the budding lotus hands at the chest.
Mouth Level: A younger person or lower in rank ought to respect an older person or higher in rank by placing the budding lotus hands at the mouth.
Nose Level: Children and grandchildren or students to respect their parents and grandparents or teacher by placing the budding lotus hands at the nose.
Eyebrow Level: People to respect the monks, King, and Sacred objects by placing the budding lotus hands at the eyebrow.
Forehead Level: People to respect the God, Brahma, Buddha, or praying.
When praying to the Buddha, the person places his palms together close to his or her face and bring his or her hands toward the ground three times. Customarily, the higher the hands are held and the lower the bow, the more respect is conveyed. Except when meeting elderly people or government officials, between men, this custom has been practically replaced by the handshake. Women usually greet both men and women with the same traditional greeting. Even though it may be considered acceptable for foreigners to shake hands with Cambodian, it is more appropriate to respect the custom and respond with a “Chumreap Suor”.