Onyomi: ライ, レイ · Kunyomi: - · Meanings: bow, ceremony, remuneration, salute, thanks
Kanji for bow, ceremony, remuneration, salute, thanks
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The kanji 礼 is made from 礻(spirit, altar) and ???? (bending or kneeling). Long ago in Japan and China, people showed respect to the gods or elders by bowing at an altar. The left part, 礻, shows the altar for worship or respect, and the right part shows a person bending down politely. Together, they form the idea of showing respect, manners, or thanks — what we now call “courtesy” or “etiquette.”
Made from 礻(altar, spirit) and ????(kneeling person). It shows a person bowing with respect — meaning thanks, manners, or courtesy.
This kanji says: before the altar (礻), the person bows (????) with respect — 礼 means thanks, politeness, or showing respect.
| Word | Reading | Meaning | Meta |
|---|---|---|---|
| 礼 | れい | thanks, gratitude | common JLPT-N3 Noun |
| 礼儀 | れいぎ | manners, courtesy, etiquette | common JLPT-N3 Noun |
| 礼拝 | れいはい | worship (esp. Christian), (church) service | common Noun, Suru verb, Transitive verb |
| 礼状 | れいじょう | acknowledgment, acknowledgement, letter of thanks | common Noun |
| 礼服 | れいふく | formal dress, ceremonial dress, morning dress, evening dress, dress suit | common Noun |
| 礼節 | れいせつ | decorum, propriety, politeness | Noun |
| 礼砲 | れいほう | (gun) salute | Noun |
| 礼儀正しい | れいぎただしい | courteous, decorous, polite | I-adjective (keiyoushi) |
| 礼儀作法 | れいぎさほう | etiquette, courtesy | Noun |
| 礼拝堂 | れいはいどう | chapel | Noun |