典礼 (diǎn lǐ) — ceremony (formal, grand) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

典礼 emphasizes a formal, solemn ceremony (graduation, inauguration). 仪式 is the more neutral 'ceremony/ritual'; 庆典 adds a celebratory, festive tone.

noun

ceremony (formal, grand)

Measure word · 个

Examples

典礼。
Bì yè diǎn lǐ jiāng zài xià zhōu jǔ xíng.
The graduation ceremony will be held next week.
典礼。
Wǒ men cān jiā le kāi xué diǎn lǐ.
We attended the opening ceremony of the school term.
典礼。
Guó qìng diǎn lǐ zài guǎng chǎng jǔ xíng.
The National Day ceremony was held in the square.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

典diǎnceremony

'典' and '礼' both mean ceremony, forming a formal event.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

冊冊cèbooks
丌丌qítable

典 puts 冊 (books) on a 丌 (table), showing official books resting on a table.

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.

礻豊禮

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.

Appears in

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