Russian Teacher Sparks Debate Over ‘Farang’ Amid ‘Ni Hao’ Controversy in Thailand
A Russian language teacher in Thailand has stirred up a heated cultural debate by calling on Thais to reconsider using the term “farang” to describe foreigners—especially if they find the use of “Ni Hao” offensive when directed at Thai people.
The conversation was ignited after Siranudh “Sai” Scott, a Thai-Scottish former park ranger, posted a video on social media detailing an incident in Krabi. Sai confronted a foreign tourist who mockingly shouted “Ni Hao” and laughed at him. Believing the greeting was used in a racist manner, Sai warned the tourist to leave the park and threatened deportation if it happened again.
The video sparked mixed reactions online. While some Thais felt Sai had overreacted, others—especially those with experience abroad—shared similar accounts of being mistaken for Chinese and mocked with “Ni Hao,” supporting Sai’s stance.
Amid this, Russian teacher Sergei Sychoff, known as Gei on TikTok (@krusudsud), chimed in with his opinion. In his video, he argued that intention matters, and saying “Ni Hao” isn’t necessarily racist unless delivered with malicious tone or context.
He added:
“I’ve experienced similar things in Thailand. Thais often say ‘farang’ and laugh—like ‘farang wants to buy something’ or ‘farang eats farang [guava]’. I didn’t find it racist, just a bad joke. But if you’re angry at someone for saying ‘Ni Hao’, then maybe stop using the word ‘farang’ too.”
Thai netizens were quick to push back. Many defended the term “farang,” stating it’s culturally embedded and not used in a derogatory way. Some pointed out that “farang” has historical roots dating back to the reign of King Rama V, who used it to refer to Europeans—its origins tied to the word “Franks”, a Germanic tribe referenced by Middle Easterners in the past as “Franj”.
Typical comments included:
- “You should research the word ‘farang’ more carefully.”
- “We say ‘Sawasdee’ to greet people, not ‘farang’.”
- “If intention matters, then what was the intention behind laughing while saying ‘Ni Hao’?”
According to Silpa Wattanatham, the word “farang” originated from the Persian adaptation of the term for Franks. The word evolved through multiple languages—Farang in Persian, Firangji in Hindi, Barang in Khmer, and Farang in Thai—and has since been normalized in Thai vernacular to describe Western foreigners.
This incident reflects the growing sensitivity around language, identity, and race in an increasingly globalized society, sparking a broader conversation about intent, cultural context, and mutual respect in everyday interactions.
