The wai is the common form of greeting and adheres to strict rules of ceremony. The wai is both a sign of respect as well as a greeting. Respect and courtesy are demonstrated by the height at which the hands are held and how low the head comes down to meet the thumbs of both hands. The senior person returns the wai, generally with their hands raised to somewhere around their chest. If there is a great social distance between two people, the wai will not be returned.