the wai can be performed in 5 different ways.Firstly,we can use a wai to greet people .Secondly, we ues a wai to pay respect to people,in particular to the elderly people monk nuns or even holy things lik Buddhaimages. thairdly we use a wai to thank peoplwe.we also use a wai to apologize to people. lastly we use a wai as a way to take leave or to say goodbye,as well.
In general,we do not show respect with a wai to younger peop however we have different ways wai-the wai with elderly people monks,nuns or high eanking personnel as show in the diagram below