礼

• Pinyin: lǐ
• Hanzi breakdown: 礼 = 礻(altar/spirit) + 乚, simplified from 禮 which showed ritual vessels

Meaning

Gift; ceremony; etiquette; ritual. A fundamental concept encompassing gifts, manners, and social propriety.

One of the core Confucian concepts. Refers to proper conduct, social rituals, and courtesy. In modern usage, commonly means gift (礼物的简称). Also refers to ceremonies (婚礼, 葬礼) and etiquette (礼貌, 礼节).

Examples

1. 过年的时候，亲戚朋友之间都会互相送礼。 During Chinese New Year, relatives and friends exchange gifts with each other.
2. 中国人很讲究礼尚往来。 Chinese people value reciprocity in gift-giving.
3. 他不太懂社交场合的礼，经常让人觉得尴尬。 He doesn't really understand social etiquette and often makes people feel awkward.

Usage Guide

Context: social, formal, gift-giving

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这份礼你收下吧。(Please accept this gift.)
• 他很有礼，见人都会打招呼。(He is very polite and greets everyone he meets.)

Don't Say

• 我送你一个大礼。(Avoid this phrasing when handing over a modest gift — it sounds boastful; just say 小小心意)

Origin & History

Originally depicted an altar (示) with offerings, representing religious rituals. Extended to mean proper social conduct and later gifts.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal