誄 (lěi) - lei3 — a funeral eulogy & to praise the dead in writing

誄Tone 3

lěi ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

俊梁

誄 · lěi

lei3 — a funeral eulogy;

to praise the dead in writing;

a formal elegy or dirge.

lei3 — a funeral eulogyto praise the dead in writinga formal elegy or dirge.

Usage highlights

funeral eulogyelegy textcompose a eulogyrecite a eulogyeulogy for the deceasedtemple eulogy

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • 頌— ode (for the living)
  • 賀詞— congratulatory message

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He composed a funeral eulogy (誄文) for his teacher.
  • The ritual required a formal elegy (誄辭).
  • Ancient nobles often had eulogies (誄) written for them.

Collocations

  • funeral eulogy(誄文)
  • elegy text(誄辭)
  • compose a eulogy(作誄)
  • recite a eulogy(誄誦)
  • eulogy for the deceased(誄亡)
  • temple eulogy(廟誄)

Idioms

  • To praise the virtuous dead(誄德)
  • Eulogy for a wife(誄妻)
  • Elegy for a friend(誄友)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • 誄 was a formal literary genre in ancient China, used to honor and recount the virtues of the deceased.
  • It was part of aristocratic funeral rites, often composed by scholars or officials.
  • The practice reflects Confucian values of honoring ancestors and the importance of written commemoration.

FAQ