礼 (lǐ) - Ritual, ceremony, propriety, etiquette, courtesy, gift & refers to formalized social conduct and rites.

礼Tone 3

lǐ ｜ 6 strokes ｜ radical:

俊梁

礼 · lǐ

Ritual, ceremony, propriety, etiquette, courtesy, gift;

refers to formalized social conduct and rites.

Ritual, ceremony, propriety, etiquette, courtesy, giftrefers to formalized social conduct and rites.

Usage highlights

EtiquetteGiftCeremonyRitualWedding ceremonyFuneral ceremony

Synonyms

  • 仪— ceremony, rite
  • 礼貌— politeness, manners

Antonyms

  • 粗鲁— rudeness, crudeness
  • 无礼— discourtesy, impoliteness

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The wedding ceremony was beautiful (婚礼).
  • He has good manners (礼貌).
  • We exchanged gifts (礼物).
  • They performed the ritual (礼仪).
  • This is common courtesy (礼节).

Collocations

  • Etiquette(礼貌)
  • Gift(礼物)
  • Ceremony(礼仪)
  • Ritual(礼节)
  • Wedding ceremony(婚礼)
  • Funeral ceremony(葬礼)

Idioms

  • Courtesy demands reciprocity(礼尚往来)
  • Overwhelmed with favors(礼多人不怪)
  • The rites and music have collapsed(礼崩乐坏)
  • To pay respects(顶礼膜拜)
  • To treat with due respect(以礼相待)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Central to Confucian philosophy as one of the fundamental virtues governing social harmony.
  • Historically refers to the elaborate system of rites and ceremonies in ancient China.
  • In modern usage, extends to general politeness, etiquette, and gift-giving customs.

FAQ