礼
salute · bow · ceremony · thanks · remuneration
Details
Stroke Order
Component Breakdown
spirit + 乚
Cultural Context
Etymology
Combines 'altar' (示) with 'abundant,' from rituals offering to gods. Developed to mean courtesy and etiquette.
Symbolism
Symbolizes courtesy, respect, and social harmony. Represents manners smoothing relationships and reverence for others.
Spiritual Meaning
One of Five Confucian Virtues. Beyond formal etiquette, it's a spiritual practice realizing respect and harmony with others—the spiritual foundation of tea ceremony and martial arts.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Drawing a bow
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
繁文縟礼
はんぶんじょくれい
red-tapism; red-tapism
慇懃無礼
いんぎんぶれい
superficially polite but actually rude; rude under a veneer of politeness; courteous on the surface but insolent at heart; superficially polite but actually rude
傲岸無礼
ごうがんぶれい
arrogance; arrogance
傲慢無礼
ごうまんぶれい
(arrogance and) insolence; (arrogance and) insolence
克己復礼
こっきふくれい
exercising self-restraint and conforming to the rules of etiquette and formality; exercising self-restraint and conforming to the rules of etiquette and formality
失礼千万
しつれいせんばん
extremely rude (impertinent, impolite); extremely rude (impertinent, impolite)
無礼千万
ぶれいせんばん
extremely rude (impertinent, impolite); extremely rude (impertinent, impolite)
帰命頂礼
きみょうちょうらい
most formal form of a prayer; most formal form of a prayer