观礼 (guān lǐ) — to attend a ceremony or celebration (as a spectator)

Definition

A formal verb meaning to attend a ceremony as a spectator (e.g., a national parade or diplomatic event). Implies a non-participant observer role, not organizing or performing.

verb
to attend a ceremony or celebration (as a spectator)

Examples

  • 观礼。
    Tā men qù tiān ān mén guǎng chǎng guān lǐ.
    They went to Tiananmen Square to attend the ceremony.
  • 。
    Tā qù nián zài guó qìng yí shì shàng guān le yí cì lǐ.
    He attended a ceremony once during last year's National Day celebration.
  • 观礼。
    Hěn duō wài guó shǐ jié yě lái guān lǐ.
    Many foreign diplomats also came to attend the ceremony.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

观guānwatch
礼lǐceremony

"观" means to watch or attend, and "礼" is the ceremony being attended.

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 觀; 观 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
見見jiànsee
Sound part声符shēngfú
雚
雚guàn觀guān
Same sound today

The traditional form 觀 uses 見 (see) for meaning and 雚 for sound.

Open 观 →

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 →

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