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礼貌 (lǐ mào) — (noun) politeness, courtesy, manners; (adjective) polite, courteous

Definition

礼貌 (lǐmào) means 'politeness / polite' as a general character trait — safe in almost any context. 客气 is more about social formality in specific acts (saying please, standing on ceremony); 礼节 refers to specific rules of etiquette.

noun
politenesscourtesymanners
adjective
politecourteous

Examples

  • ，礼貌。
    Zài gōng gòng chǎng hé, lǐ mào hěn zhòng yào.
    In public places, politeness is very important.
  • 礼貌。
    Tā shì yí gè hěn lǐ mào de xué shēng.
    She is a very polite student.
  • 礼貌。
    Tā shuō huà hěn lǐ mào.
    He speaks very politely.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

礼lǐpropriety
貌màomanner

礼 (propriety) and 貌 (manner) together express courteous behavior.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 禮; 礼 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
礻Written in full as示shìaltar
Sound part声符shēngfú
豊
豊lǐ禮lǐ
Same sound today

The traditional form 禮 pairs 礻 (altar) with 豊, a sound part, for performing rites at the altar; the simplified 礼 is a later shorthand.

Open 礼 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
皃皃màolooks
Sound part声符shēngfú
豹
豹bào貌
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

貌 uses 皃, an older picture of a face, to show looks, and 豹 as a sound part.

Open 貌 →
Appears in
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